Gustav Sandgren

Who was Gustav Sandgren?

Gustav Sandgren, born 20 August 1904 in Western Stenby in Motala, Östergötland, died 11 August 1983 at Lidingö in Stockholm, was an author. He married Titti Lindstedt in 1935. They lived in Björknäs at Hållsviken west of Trosa in Södermanland. He subsequently married Ria Wägner and then spent forty years living in Lidingö, Stockholm.

Sandgren's parents were O.J. Sandgren and Karolina Adolfsson, who gave their son a poor but happy childhood. The father was—in addition to his work— a fiddler. Their son Gustav had since childhood, both heard and played on the fiddle—a musical instrument which he handled with skill throughout life. He was fascinated by folklore, mystery and dreams.

After school Sandgren became a laborer and worked for five years at Cloetta chocolate in Ljungsbro. He eventually became a full-time writer, and was to have 47 books behind him when he died in 1983. He also wrote poetry collections. Together with Harry Martinson, Artur Lundkvist, Erik Asklund and Josef Kjellgren he formed the literary group Fem unga. Other accomplishments include fairy tales, and children's books. Sometimes he wrote under the pseudonym Gabriel Linde. The last name Linde referred to the croft where he stayed in the summer of 1933, located about a kilometre southeast of Norrvrå station in Hölö in Södermanland.