Across the literary pages | 10 October 2011

Tomas Tranströmer, Nobel laureate, is the toast of the literary world at present. He was a near ubiquitous presence in the weekend’s books pages. Philip Hensher has written a profile in the Telegraph that says anything and everything you need to know about the enigmatic Swedish poet.

‘Tomas Transtromer was by profession a psychologist who worked with criminals, drug addicts and in prisons. He published small amounts of poetry over the years, much of which reflects an interest in nature and in a kind of imagistic approach to the natural world. In 1990, Transtromer suffered a major stroke which made it impossible for him to speak in public. However, he has gone on writing and indeed has published an autobiography.’

Hensher notes that Tranströmer is the latest in long procession of slightly obscure Swedes to have won the prize and wonders if Tranströmer’s work will endure beyond the transient salons in which he is currently admired.