Carl Michael Bellman

Carl Michael Bellman was born in Stockholm in 1740 and died there in 1795. He sang his own texts, accompanying himself on the cittern, alone, and he performed them at court as in the tavern; he held both audiences. He lived on administrative posts obtained by favour, on debts and on the protection of King Gustav III. Imprisoned for debt, he died poor. He is the central figure of the Swedish song tradition and one of those whose influence on the country's music has lasted longest: he is still sung.

In the catalogue 1

• PoetryFredmans epistlarCarl Michael Bellman · 1790not translated into EnglishLiterature