Lennart Hellsing: Sweden Author

All pedagogical art is bad art, but all good art is pedagogical.

Lennart Hellsing

Lennart Hellsing was born in June 5, 1919, in Västanfors in Fagersta. He is considered Sweden's grand old man of children's literature. He is 90 years old - or perhaps 90 years young as he is still active in creating delightful poetry; his latest book was published in May 2009, Little Brother and Night-time.

He has had a tremendous impact on Swedish children's literature, as writer, translator, critic, and promoter for research in children's literature. Since his debut in 1945 he has published more than 60 books, often in cooperation with extraordinary artists.

He is considered an "outstanding poet" in the field of humor and nonsense writing. His poems are playful and, at times, playfully shocking and refreshing. He is a master of rhyme, rhythm, puns, and alliteration. His work has been translated into at least twelve languages, yet translations don't capture the genius of his work in its original form. His work is considered child-like but not childish in a way that always honors and respects children.

Reviewers note that his books can be hilarious while at the same time grim (Bagar Bengtsson/The Book about Bengtsson the Baker). He addresses existential issues that speak to both child and adult (Bananbok/The Banana Book and Ägget/The Egg) and is known for taking his readers on adventurous travels (Kanaljen i Seraljen/Rascal in the Castle, Fabel från Babel/The Fable from Babel and Sand i sandalerna /Sandin the Sandals).

Lennart Hellsing has received numerous awards spanning decades, including the Samfundet De Nio stora pris (The Nine Society Grand Prize) in 1987 and the Astrid Lindgren's Värld-stipendiet (The World of Astrid Lindgren Award) in 1998. As a birthday gift to the ninety-year-old Hellsing, The Swedish institute for Children's Books established a new prize - The Lennart Hellsing Prize. Hellsing conveyed what poetry means to him when he requested that this prize be given "To a person who knows that without poetry language is without life and life is without flowers."