Gardell, Jonas

(1963-)

   One of the best-known public personalities in 21st-century Sweden, Gardell is a stand-up comic, poet, novelist, essayist, and filmmaker. His early years were very difficult, as his father abandoned the family, leaving Gardell with bitter feelings that caused him to look for solace in drugs. He had his literary debut while still a teenager with the poetry collection Den tigande talar/ 4937 (1981; The Silent One Speaks/4937). His first novel was Passionsspelet (1985; The Passion Play). The novel Odjurets tid (1986; The Time of the Beast) depicts characters who create the illusions they need to cope with life. Prariehundarna (1987; The Prairie Dogs) satirizes contemporary Swedish society, while Vill ga hem (1988; Want to Go Home) offers satirical portraits of two sisters. Fru Bjorks oden och aventyr (1990; The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Bjork) tells the story of a woman who takes revenge on her former husband.

   En komikers uppvast (1992; A Comedian Grows Up) is an autobiographical novel that offers many details about Gardell's own life. The story about his two main characters, Juha and Jenny, continues in Ett ufo gor entre (2001; A UFO Shows Up). Frestelsernas berg (1995; The Mount of Temptations) deals with the history of a dysfunctional family. Taking its title from a well-known Swedish evening hymn, Sa gar en dag ifranvart liv och kommer aldrig ater (1998; Thus a Day Passes from Our Lives and Never Comes Back) tells about the lives of a group of everyday people.

   Gardell has published a volume of drama, Isbjornarna; Cheek to cheek; Manniskor i solen: tre pjaser (1997; The Polar Bears; Cheek to Cheek; People in the Sun: Three Plays). He has also written the screenplay for such films as Pensionat Oskar (1995; also distributed as Like It Never Was Before) and Livet ar en schlager (2000; also distributed as Once in a Lifetime). He continues to produce live shows.

   Mormor grater och andra texter (1993; Grandma Cries and Other Texts) contains both poetry and prose. The title piece, "Mormor grater" (Grandma Cries), is a Christmas story that is well on its way to achieving the status of a Christmas classic in Sweden. The essay collection Oskuld och andra texter (2000; Innocence and Other Texts) is of interest chiefly because of Gardell's reflections on matters of religion. These concerns also animate his book Om Gud (2003; About God), in which he offers a historical introduction to the Christian concept of the divine.