SELMA LAGERLOF-THE LOVER OF CHILDREN.

Shannon News, 28 June 1927, Page 3

SELMA LAGERLOF-THE LOVER OF CHILDREN.

Selma Lagerlof, the first woman writel' to secure the Nobel Literature Prize, was born of poor parents and h,ad to earn her living as a schoolmistress in a dull provincial town In Sweden. The girl was known to Be clever—but without money, what chance had She?

No chance came to her. Rather she had an hour of clear vision. She suddenly decided to write a story, a wondrous story, about her own forest country—the Varmland where she was born. Little time was at her disposal, but, nothing daunted, Selma began her nocturnal scribblings. She continued for months and months, and never showed her manuscript to anyone. Then, by sheer coincidence she happened to hear of a short-story competition organised by a Stockholm, paper. She sent in her unfinished manuscript and thought no more about it. But she won the prize, and the tiresome drudgery of her schoolwork was ended. That first story of hers has since become famous. ‘Gosta Berling's Saga’ has been translated into most languages, though at first jits publication did not put an end to the strugglings of Selma Lagerlof. She went on, very bravely, 'till a fairy godmother came forward and proffered generous help provided she continued her writing. Selma wished for nothing better. She threw herself into her work body and soul, and came out of the battle with flying colours. She has since won the hearts of countless readers, particularly women and children, by her splendid ability to bring life and'laughter into the most grim and commonplace surroundings.

The biggest literary success, the Nobel Prize, was awarded to her in 1909, but even this triumph did not change Selma Lagerlof. In vulgar parlance, she has never suffered from a “swollen head.” All her life sue has been as simple and kind and unpretentious as she was in the days of her village schooling. She hates crowds and any kind of ostentation. Th e greatest woman writer in the North is continually bent on effacing herself; she even contrives to be dull in her talk so as not to attract un. wanted attention.

She is rich to-day, but she prefers to pass her old age in the quiet simplicity of her country home, “Marbacka” in Varmland, where she was born, and which she has made immortal in her first brilliant boo*.