Eva Mattsson

1940 - 2012

Sweden

Eva Mattsson grew up in Gävle. She graduated in 1966 and in the same year sat the exam at the school of journalism, studied languages and theatre, and worked as a language teacher, journalist, and welfare worker.

Her debut work Stanna mitt hjärta (SS) was published in 1979, and she subsequently published several short story collections, including Spröda röster, 1984, Groucho i grönt, 1987, and Blod på min vägg, 1988. Her consistent themes are in keeping with the period’s new literature of emancipation, oppression, protest, rebellion, and miracles. Her novel Für Elise, 1980, presents a pessimistic portrait of a middle-aged woman, while Jag ska göra natt till dag. En kärleksroman (N), 1982, approaches love as a malady. In Passepartout (N), 1993, the writer lets the female protagonist try different narrative strategies; however, she never succeeds in becoming the main character in her own narrative.

Additions by the editorial team 2011:

The above biography was first published in 1998. Since then, Eva Mattsson has published the autobiographical work Familjenotiser: vägsträckor, 1999, the short story collection Hundarna i Ask, 2000, and the novels Tala efter pipet, 2002, Den lilla pikéblusen, 2005, and Ostende: en släkthistoria, 2006.

Articles about her