Selma Lagerlöf was born the 20 November 1858 at the Mårbacka manor in Värmland, Sweden. She died the 16 March 1940, in the same house where she was born, and was then considered to be the greatest contemporary story-teller.

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Selma Lagerlöf worked as a teacher in the city of Landskrona for about ten years. She then decided to devote herself full-time to the writing which she had started very early. Her first novel, "The story of Gösta Berling", was published in 1891, a book that innovated the art of story-telling in Sweden by its poetic and imaginative style.

Other examples of her well-known books are: "Jerusalem 1-2" (1901-1902), "The money of mister Arne" (1904), "The wonderful journey of Nils" (1906-1907), "The emperor of Portugallia" (1914) etc.

Selma Lagerlöf´s fairytales and myths are the reason why she become so famous also abroad. She is the one of the most translated writers ever. The story about Nils Holgersson is so far translated into more than 30 languages world-wide. She was awarded a great many marks of honour, e.g the Swedish Academy´s big gold medal in 1904, and in 1907 she was appointed Honorary Doctor at the Uppsala University. The Nobel Prize of Litterature was awarded to her in 1909, and in 1914 she was elected member of the Swedish Academy. Selma Lagerlöf´s books are classic, they are intense and emotional adventures to read, they are filled with warmth and belief in a good world.

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