Fröding, Gustaf (1860–1911)

Swedish lyric poet. Inspired by the European Romantics, radical in politics, engaged in the revolt against Naturalism, he charted new possibilities for Swedish verse by uniting colloquial language with musical form. His themes are often melancholy and despairing, reflecting his history of mental instability. His collections include Guitarr och dragharmonika/Guitar and Concertina 1891, Nya dikter/New Poems 1894, and Stänk och flikar/Splashes and Rags 1896.

Fröding was born near Karlstad, Värmland, and studied at Uppsala University. He worked as a journalist, but his career was interrupted by breakdowns. His poetry is intensely individual, combining a sombre melancholy with burlesque humour and charming pictures of his native Värmland. Fröding is considered one of Sweden's greatest lyrical poets, and his influence on later writers was immense. He also wrote studies of Robert Burns and translated some of his poems.