Sonja Åkesson
Sonja Åkesson was Sweden's leading poet in the 1960s, as well as a playwright and visual artist. Åkesson published her works in 1957-1977 - twelve collections of poetry, one novel, one book for children, one collection of songs and some ten plays.
About the archive
The Sonja Åkesson Collection (A 112) includes manuscripts (both exclusively written by her, as well as in collaboration with others), journals, correspondence, photos, reviews, newspaper clippings and more. The collection dates from the 1930s through to 2003, and amounts to 40 volumes.
Biography
Sonja Bertha Maria Åkesson (1926–1977) was born on Gotland and had to start working to earn her living already at 13 years old. In the 1950s the moved to Stockholm, and as her schooling had been lacking in many ways, she attended various evening classes and took correspondence courses. Her breakthrough came with Husfrid, 1963. The poem Äktenskapsfrågan – Vara Vit Mans slav was written from the point of her own discontent. She became highly appreciated by the newly awakened women's movement of the time, and embraced by various feminist advocates and movements.
In the 1960s, Åkesson participated in everything she could, and tried every genre. Theatre held a great appeal to her, and she wrote for Suzanne Osten's Fickteatern. Verklighetsflykt - i väntan på vadå? – a collaboration with Peter Ortman and Jean Billgren – was staged at Dramaten in Stockholm. Many poems were written directly for the stage, and were immediately set to music. She collaborated with composer Gunnar Edander, and together they published a song collection titled Slagdängor. 20 lätt sjungbara bitar utan den allra vanligaste Svensktoppstexten.
In the early 1970s, Åkesson struggled with depression and her authorship became more narrow in focus. The story Sagan om Siv, from 1974, was made film by Harald Westman in the same year. In Hästens öga, issued posthumously just after her death, she returns to portraiture of various persons, as well as renditions of nature. As a graphic artist, one of her illustration projects was her own book, Hjärtat hamrar, lungorna smälter (1972) and her images were displayed for the first time in 1975 at the autumn salon of the Hallands museum.
Sonja Åkesson received the Ferlin prize in 1969 and the Grand Prize of the Nine Society in 1974.
The above text is partially based on Sonja Bertha Maria Åkesson, by Eva Lilja.
Read more
The Biographical Dictionary of Swedish Women (SKBL)
Books by Sonja Åkesson
Books on Sonja Åkesson