October 21, 1996

Contact: Craig D'Ooge (202) 707-9189

---

Four Swedish Poets To Read at the Library of Congress

In a special program co-sponsored by the Academy of American Poets, poets Katarina Frostenson, Lars Gustafsson, G"ran Sonnevi, and Birgitta Trotzig will read from their work; Rika Lesser will read English translations. The program will be in the Montpelier Room, sixth floor of the Library's Madison Building, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 6:45 p.m.; tickets are not required.

The Swedish poets, brought to the United States by the Swedish Information Service in conjunction with the Academy of American Poets, will read in New York City as well as in Washington. Katarina Frostenson, born in Stockholm in 1953, is regarded as one of Sweden's leading lyrical poets. Elected to the Swedish Academy in 1992, she is the youngest ever to be so honored. Lars Gustafsson--philosopher, poet, novelist, and polemicist--has made his home in Austin, Texas, for several decades. Known primarily for his novels and collections of short stories, he is also a distinguished poet with several collections of poetry to his name. G"ran Sonnevi is the author of 12 collections of poetry; he has been awarded many prizes for his work, which has been widely translated. Birgitta Trotzig, elected to the Swedish Academy in 1993, is a writer whose voice transcends the borders between poetry and prose. Her work has been translated into most other European languages.

The Academy of American Poets was founded in 1934 to support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry. The largest organization in the country dedicated specifically to the art of poetry, the Academy sponsors programs nationally. These include a prestigious fellowship, national series of readings and residencies, many prizes for poetry writing and translation, and poetry prizes at 160 colleges and universities. The Academy also provides financial assistance to poets and noncommercial publishers of poetry through the American Poets Fund and the Atlas Fund. Each April, the Academy coordinates National Poetry Month, a celebration of the richness and diversity of American poetry.

# # #

PR 96-152
10/18/96
ISSN 0731-3527