author
Karl Alfred Melin
1849–1919
A Swedish poet, hymn writer, and teacher, remembered for polished lyric verse and a long career in education. He also held seat 13 in the Swedish Academy, linking his writing to the heart of Sweden’s literary life.
1 Audiobook
Tjuvbandet i Dägerö skärgård
by Karl Alfred Melin
About the author
Born on March 11, 1849, in Utö, Sweden, Karl Alfred Melin went on to build a life in both literature and education. He studied at Uppsala University, earned a doctorate with a dissertation on tragic guilt, and later worked as a schoolman, a role that stayed central to his career.
Melin published poetry as well as scholarly work on verse and literary form, and he is also noted as a hymn writer. His writing was admired for its careful craft and lyrical quality, and he became an established figure in Swedish literary culture.
In 1898, he was elected to seat 13 of the Swedish Academy. He died on July 5, 1919, in Torö parish, leaving behind a body of work that reflects both a poet’s ear and a teacher’s love of language.