Lindgren, Astrid (1907–2002)

Swedish writer. Born Astrid Ericsson in Vimmerby, Sweden, Nov 14, 1907; died Jan 28, 2002, in Stockholm; dau. of Hanna (Jonsson) Ericsson and Samuel August Ericsson (both farmers); m. Sture Lindgren, April 4, 1931 (died 1952); children: (prior to her marriage) Lars; Karin Lindgren (b. 1934, who m. Carl Olof Nyman).

Published Pippi Longstocking (Pippi Laangstrump, 1945), followed by Pippi Goes on Board (1946) and the last of the series, Pippi in the South Seas (1948); became editor and head of children's book department at Raben & Sjogren (1946), a position she held until 1970; produced books, radio plays and film manuscripts (Pippi was broadcast on Swedish radio in 1946, the 1st feature film was made in 1949), as well as theater adaptations and lectures; wrote a scathing critique against the Social Democratic government in the guise of a satirical fairy tale, attacking the party apparatus whose leaders had ceased to resemble the activists of the early days, causing a debate which brought to an end the 40-year rule of the Social Democrats in Sweden; protested the mistreatment of farm animals (1985), resulting in Lex Lindgren, the Animal Protection Act (1988). Received Nils Holgersson Medal (1950), Hans Christian Andersen Medal; Swedish Academy's Gold Medal (1971), The Dutch Silver Pen Award (1975), Adelaide-Risto Award, International Writer's Prize, Gold Medal awarded by Swedish Government, French Children's Book Award, Karen Blixen Award, Selma Lagerlof Award (1986), and Leo Tolstoy International Gold Medal (1987); prizes honoring her humanitarian activities include the Janusz Korczak Prize (1979), Dag Hammarskjöld Award (1984), and Albert Schweitzer Medal (1989).

See also Eva-Maria Metcalf, Astrid Lindgren (Twayne, 1995); and Women in World History.