Martinson, Moa

(1890-1964)

   A Swedish novelist and poet, Martinson came from a background of abject poverty in the slums of the town of Norrkoping. She gave birth to five children, two of whom drowned in a creek, and she experienced the gruesome suicide ofher first husband, who blew himself up with dynamite. In spite of all her adversity, Martinson worked hard to educate herself and wrote articles for the socialist and anarchist press. She married writer Harry Martinson in 1929; they were later divorced.

   Moa Martinson's first novel, Kvinnor och appeltrad (1933, tr. Women and Apple Trees, 1985), portrayed the lives of working-class women. In its sequel, Sallys soner (1934; Sally's Sons), she offers frank depictions of female desire, pregnancy, and birth. Ragvakt (1935; Rye Watch) portrays the hard life ofagricultural laborers. The frank presentation of female eroticism is continued in Drottning Gragyllen (1937; Queen Greygolden), which uses fairy tales and folklore legends in the creation of a woman character who returns to her childhood haunts as an old woman, the mythic Queen Greygolden. Supposedly "shameful" aspects of female sexuality also inform Martinson s only poetry collection, Motsols (1937; Counterclockwise).

   Also in the 1930s Martinson wrote an autobiographical trilogy consisting of Mor gifter sig (1936; tr. My Mother Gets Married, 1988), Kyrkbrollop (1938; Church Wedding), and Kungens rosor (1939; The King's Roses), the protagonist of which is a very strong and capable woman similar to Martinson herself. One of its great contributions to Swedish literature was its depiction of working-class life from a woman s perspective. Another autobiographical series of novels was published in the 1940s and 1950s. Consisting ofthe volumes Den osynlige aälskaren (1943; The Invisible Lover), Du aär den enda (1952; You Are the Only One), Klockor vid sidenvägen (1957; Bells along the Silk Road), and Hemligheten (1959; The Secret), this series made use of Martinson's experiences during the early years of her first marriage.

   Martinson's "Ostergotland Epic" uses characters from Drottning Gragyllen and Kvinnor och appeltrad, It comprises three novels in which she tells about life in her home district: Vägen under stjarnorna (1940; The Road beneath the Stars), Brandliljor (1941; Fire Lilies), and Livets fest (1949; The Celebration of Life). This trilogy is also a family saga, as it tells about several generations ofpeople from the same farm. Other novels that make use of Martinson s own life experience are Armen vid horisonten (1942; The Army at the Horizon), Bakom svenskvallen (1944; Behind Swedish Fortifications), and Kaärlek mellan krigen (1947; Love between the Wars).