About
Composer, songwriter, and poet who was a key figure in the shaping of Swedish music and literature. He became best known for his two collections of 70 poems set to music, which went under the titles Fredman's Epistles and Fredman's Songs. He was renowned for his emotive expression and depiction of a wide range of moods through his works. His lyrics focused on both traditional mythology and the modern lifestyle of the time. His works have been translated into more than 20 languages. He has served as the inspiration for a museum, a television series, a ballet, and much more.
Before Fame
He was born and raised in one of the nicest homes in the area, which was called called Stora Daurerska House, until he relocated with his family to a smaller home called Lilla Daurerska House. He became an enthusiastic student of literature, languages, and art before going to Uppsala University.
Trivia
As a child, he became seriously ill with a fever. When he recovered, he realized that he had suddenly gained the ability to communicate any idea into rhyming verse. Many of his epistles featured a cast of fictional characters such as a prostitute named Ulla Winblad and an alcoholic military veteran named Jean Fredman.
Family Life
He was the son of Catharina Hermonia and the civil servant Johan Arndt Bellman. He was the oldest of 15 children. He married Lovisa Grönlund in 1977 and they had 4 children named Gustav, Elis, Karl, and Adolf.
Associated With
He was highly lauded by King Gustav III, who referred to him as The Master Improviser. He has been compared to artists and composers including William Shakespeare, Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and William Hogarth.
