Torgny Lindgren was born in 1938 in Norsjö, in northern Sweden. His literary debut in 1965 is followed by a career as a writer with numerous awards and prizes. Considered one of the great contemporary narrators, he has published several novels among which are: Bathsheba, The way of the serpent on the rock, In praise of the truth and Bumblebee honey. In 1990 he was named Doctor honoris causa by the University of Linkoping (Sweden). Since 1991 he is a member of the Swedish Academy.