Fyrtiotalism
Fyrtiotalism is the name of a literary movement in Swedish literature. The writers were not a united group, but represented a new generation of literature with a modernist tendency. Their work, influenced by writers such as Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Franz Kafka, T. S. Eliot and the events during World [War II], marked the breakthrough and establishment of Modernist Swedish literature.
Leading representatives of the movement were Erik Lindegren and Karl Vennberg. Other prominent representatives were Stig Dagerman, the poet Werner Aspenström, novelist Lars Ahlin and critic Lennart Göthberg. The magazine 40-tal was a central forum for the authors to publish their ideas in articles, essays and literary contributions.
The literature
The literature of fyrtiotalism was often experimental and focused on the universal existential questions. A central work is Erik Lindegren's surreal "shattered sonnets" in mannen utan väg that expresses the despair and desillusion of the time. Karl Vennberg's more low-key poetry is marked by skepticism and irony in works such as Halmfackla. Werner Aspenström appeared as another prominent poet with his Skriket och tystnaden.Stig Dagerman and Lars Ahlin were the leading prose writers. With novels such as Ormen and De dömdas ö Dagerman became one of the best known representatives of fyrtiotalism. The short story was prominent with writers such as Dagerman, Thorsten Jonsson, Sivar Arnér and Olov Jonason.