When is Selma Lagerlöf's birthday?

Selma Lagerlöf's birthday is November 20. She was born on November 20, 1858 in Östra Ämtervik church parish, Sweden.

How old was Selma Lagerlöf when she died?

Selma Lagerlöf died on March 16, 1940, aged 81.

Who shares a birthday with Selma Lagerlöf?

Famous people who share Selma Lagerlöf's November 20 birthday include Joe Biden, Nadine Gordimer, Edwin Hubble, Robert F. Kennedy and Pius VIII.

Literature · 1858–1940

Selma Lagerlöf — Age, Birthday & Biography

Born: 20 November 1858 · Died: 16 March 1940 · Age: 81

Swedish novelist of Gösta Berling's Saga and The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature

Did you know?She was also the first female member of the Swedish Academy, the body responsible for selecting Nobel laureates.

Quick facts

Date of birth20 November 1858
Date of death16 March 1940
Age at death81
Cause of deathStroke
NationalitySwedish
BirthplaceÖstra Ämtervik church parish, Sweden
Occupationwriter, novelist, children's writer

Editor's Take:

Lagerlöf made history as the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Her stories blended Swedish folklore, landscape and moral drama. The Wonderful Adventures of Nils began as a geography textbook and became a beloved children's classic. She wrote with warmth and imagination at a time when realism dominated literature. Her success opened doors for women writers across Europe.

Key Milestones

1891: Gösta Berling's Saga – debut novel
1906: Nils Holgersson – children's classic
1909: Nobel Prize – first woman in literature
1914: Swedish Academy – elected member

Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (US also, Swedish:; 20 November 1858 – 16 March 1940) was a Swedish writer. She published her first novel, Gösta Berling's Saga, at the age of 33.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

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Selma Lagerlöf: The Storyteller of Sweden

Swedish author and Nobel laureate, 1858–1940

Selma Lagerlöf was born at Mårbacka, Värmland, on 20 November 1858.

She worked as a teacher before her first novel, Gösta Berling's Saga, made her name.

In 1909 she became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Career highlights

1891Gösta Berling's Saga: debut novel
1906Nils Holgersson: children's classic
1909Nobel Prize: first woman in literature
1914Swedish Academy: elected member
1940Death: at Mårbacka

Did you know?Her portrait appeared on the Swedish 20-krona banknote for many years.

Age at death: 81
Years since death: 86

Family

Father: Erik Gustaf Lagerlöf
Mother: Elisabet Lovisa Wallroth

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Questions people ask

Frequently asked questions

When is Selma Lagerlöf's birthday?: Selma Lagerlöf's birthday is November 20. She was born on November 20, 1858 in Östra Ämtervik church parish, Sweden.
How old was Selma Lagerlöf when she died?: Selma Lagerlöf died on March 16, 1940, aged 81.
Who shares a birthday with Selma Lagerlöf?: Famous people who share Selma Lagerlöf's November 20 birthday include Joe Biden, Nadine Gordimer, Edwin Hubble, Robert F. Kennedy and Pius VIII.

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Quick facts

Editor's Take:

Key Milestones

Selma Lagerlöf: The Storyteller of Sweden

Family

Explore

Explore Selma Lagerlöf's birthday

Frequently asked questions

Born on the same day6

Joe Biden

Nadine Gordimer

Edwin Hubble

Robert F. Kennedy

Pius VIII

Benoit Mandelbrot

Also Scorpio4

Marie Curie

Joe Biden

Pablo Picasso

Martin Luther

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Further reading