Gunilla Bergström
Gunilla Elisabet Dukure Bergström was a Swedish author, journalist, and illustrator. She is best known for her series of children's books about the character Alfie Atkins, which she wrote and illustrated. Books about her character were translated into many languages, and some were adapted into film, television and theatre plays. She received several awards, including the royal Litteris et Artibus.
Life and career
Born in Gothenburg, Bergström moved to Stockholm in 1966 to begin her career as a journalist. She worked for Swedish newspapers such as Aftonbladet and Dagens Nyheter. Bergström debuted as a children's book author in 1971, and released her first Alfie Atkins book in 1972. The character is a boy who lives with his single father. She has been a children's book author ever since, having released twenty-five Alfie books as of 2007. These books have been translated into 35 languages and have sold over eight million copies worldwide. Four million copies have been sold in Sweden alone. In 2006, her book Alfons och soldatpappan was released simultaneously in seven different languages; this had never happened before for a Swedish children's book.Bergström has also written children's books about characters such as Milla, Bill, and Bolla. Bergström said she received the inspiration for her stories from everyday life. She was also interested in psychology and human behavior, and incorporated this into some of her books. Bergström described herself as a nit-picky person when it comes to writing. She illustrated her own books and often worked with collage.
Bergström ran her own company, Bok-Makaren, which handles the licenses to the Alfie Atkins series, which have been granted for theatre productions and Alfie dolls, puzzles, and computer games. Bergström has commented that there is "nothing wrong with making commerce of famous things, but we are careful about who we sell licenses to."
As of 2007, Bergström was living in Stockholm with her West African husband. They spent their winters together in West Africa. Bergström was a grandmother. In 2012, she was awarded Illis Quorum by the Swedish Government.
Bergström died on 23 August 2021, almost two months after her 79th birthday.
Awards
Her many awards have included:Books
Bergström's books were published by Rabén & Sjögren, including:Mias pappa flyttar God natt, Alfons Åberg Tjuven Aja baja, Alfons Åberg Raska på, Alfons Åberg Alfons och hemlige Mållgan Vem räddar Alfons Åberg? Listigt Alfons Åberg Alfons och odjuret Tokigt & Klokigt, mera rim med Bill och Bolla Är du feg, Alfons Åberg? Var är bus-Alfons? Vem spökar Alfons Åberg? Lycklige Alfons Åberg Alfons och Milla Kalas, Alfons Åberg! Hokus pokus, Alfons Åberg! Bara knyt, Alfons! Vad sa pappa Åberg? Alfons egna saker Alfons tycker om Där går Tjuv-Alfons! Milla mitt-i-natten Ingen sak sa Milla Mera monster, Alfons! Alla möjliga Alfons Mera miner med Alfons Trall-fonsar. Visor med Alfons Åberg Hurra för pappa Åberg! Milla mitt-i-godiskriget Näpp! sa Alfons Åberg Lösgodis – fickan full Lösgodis – en påse till Titta – peka Alfons Åberg Flyg sa Alfons Åberg Osynligt med Alfons Hurra för Alfons Åbergs far Hur långt når Alfons Åberg? Alfons ABC Alfons och soldatpappan Alfons med styrke-säcken- ''Skratta lagom! sa pappa Åberg''