It is customary to say that Sweden's modern literary history began in the 18th century with the mystic philosopher Emanuel Swedenborg. During the late 18th century our national poet, Carl Michael Bellman, composed life-affirming, death-evoking drinking songs and frivolous, idyllic pastorales.
The past decade in particular has marked a breakthrough for contemporary Swedish literature. After a long period of writing for a more or less isolated and national literary market, today more and more Swedish authors are seeing their works translated into a growing number of foreign languages. Works by many of the Swedish writers who have recently experienced international success can be classified as popular literature. They include detective and adventure book authors Jan Guillou and Henning Mankell, as well as the religiously inspired prosaist Marianne Fredriksson.
Another defining Swedish literary tradition is the children's book - a reflection, perhaps, of the child's comparatively strong position in Swedish society. The great name in this field is of course Astrid Lindgren. Her classics about Pippi Longstocking, Karlsson on the Roof, Ronia the Robber's Daughter, the Brothers Lionheart and many more have been translated to over a hundred languages and sold by the millions worldwide. In Sweden, Lindgren's six-decade-long writing career gave her the status of national treasure. Her books have influenced and continue to influence generations of Swedes, not only in childhood but throughout their lives.