8 of Scandinavia’s most eminent female writers to know

We’re known (and loved) for many things here in the Nordics, not least of all the great literature this region has spawned. Just think about the enormous popularity of Nordic Noir for instance, or the influence beloved writers such as Tove Jansson and Astrid Lindgren have had on our popular culture. In addition to Jansson and Lindgren, this part of the world is home to many other prominent female writers, some, like Selma Lagerlöf, have written classics that have gone down in literary history, while others, such as Maja Lunde, produce some of the most fascinating contemporary works of today.

Ahead, Vogue Scandinavia has rounded up the Nordics’ most eminent female writers to know and put on your reading list.

Tove Jansson, a Swedish-speaking Finn, was not just an acclaimed writer but also an artist and a cartoonist, and is best known for being the mother of the Moomins, the hippopotamus-type creatures she first devised in a cartoon strip.

Jansson was born in 1914 in Helsinki to two free-spirited artist parents, who had a significant influence on their daughter's creative career choice. In the 1940s, Jansson wrote the very first Moomin story: The Moomins and the Great Flood, a rare treat for children amidst the Second World War and the poverty it caused. In the 1950s, the popularity of Moomins grew, and soon the white, rounded characters were loved worldwide. Jansson’s work has continued to have an enduring influence on popular culture. Her tales are amongst the best-loved in the world, embracing universal themes such as love, tolerance and equality – and not forgetting just the right amount of common sense.

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Undoubtedly amongst the most eminent Danish authors of the 20th century, Karen Blixen wrote both in English and Danish, publishing her debut short story, Eneboerne (The Hermits), in 1907 at just 22. In her early writing days, Blixen wrote under several pseudonyms, including Isak Dinesen, Pierre Andrézel and Osceola. After living in Kenya for over a decade, in 1937, Blixen published one of her best-known works, Out of Africa, about her years living on her farm in Africa. It was later made into an Academy Award-winning film of the same name, but there has been criticism levelled against Blixen by more contemporary readers for her portrayals in the novel.

Blixen’s other major works include Babette’s Feast (which also got the Hollywood treatment), Shadows on the Grass, Winter’s Tales and The Dreamers and she was often praised by the greats like Earnest Hemingway and Truman Capote and even received several nominations for the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Born in 1904 in Vimmerby, Astrid Lindgren remains one of the most illustrious Nordic writers, best loved for her children’s books such as Pippi Longstocking, The Brothers Lionheart and Ronia, the Robber’s Daughter, all of which have received international acclaim. Lindgren’s roster of work includes 34 chapter books and 41 picture books that have sold over 170 million copies worldwide and been translated into over 100 languages. But what made her stories appeal to so many? A big part of Lindgren's literary skill was her portrayal of people from all sorts of walks of life, never losing her curiosity for the world around her. Lindgren was also a passionate campaigner, known for her work advocating for children’s rights, animal welfare and equality.

Although she passed away in 2002, Lindgren’s legacy still lives on and her works remain a firm favourite amongst children and grown-ups alike.

Related: Beyond Pippi: How Astrid Lindgren’s work resonates across cultures

Selma Lagerlöf was a woman of firsts. Born in 1958 in Mårbacka, Swedish Selma Lagerlöf made history in 1909 when she became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. She published her first novel, Gösta Berlings Saga (The Story of Gösta Berling) at 33, which became one of her most acclaimed works and was later made into a silent film starring Greta Garbo.

Additional renowned works from the writer include Jerusalem, which depicts the rise of a religious movement leading a group of peasants to relocate from Dalarna to Jerusalem, and the children’s book The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, a tale about a young mischievous boy who embarks on an adventure with a flock of wild geese as they begin their migration south. The inspiration for many of Lagerlöf’s stories hail from folk tales, legends and other fables that have been passed down through generations.

59-year-old Icelandic author Yrsa Sigurðardóttir started writing in 1998, but it wasn’t until around 12 years later that her work began to garner international recognition. The Reykjavik-based author began her writing career by penning children’s fiction, later moving on to crime novels, with books such as The Doll, Gallows Rock and The Legacy: A Thriller. In true Nordic Noir style, Sigurðardóttir’s stories are known for their intriguing characters, complex murder mystery plots and psychological tension that’s sure to keep any reader on the edge of their seat.

Today, Sigurðardóttir is often lorded as “The Queen of Nordic crime” and her work has been translated into over 30 languages.

Related: 8 Nordic noir books that have been made into films

Finnish writer and playwright Sofi Oksanen is one of today’s most renowned and internationally awarded Nordic authors, with six novels under her belt. But it was her 2008 breakthrough book, Purge, which has remained her most notable. The novel tells the dark story of two women, whose lives collide during the Soviet occupation of Estonia. The story rewarded Oksanen with several accolades, including the coveted Finlandia award, The European Book Prize and the Nordic Council Literature Award.

Her novels often centre around the recent history of Finland and its surrounding countries, exploring difficult topics such as war, violence, inequality, infidelity and womanhood. Oksanen has been lauded for her sharp social commentary and for using her female protagonists to delve into history’s annals, bringing it to life for any reader.

Maja Lunde is often dubbed the shining star of Norway’s contemporary literature scene, and rightfully so. The 47-year-old author first made her literary debut in 2012 with the children’s book Over grensen (Across the Border), where young Jewish protagonists Sarah and Daniel try to flee the German occupation of Norway, hoping to find their way to Sweden. But it was the first of her climate quartet series, The History of Bees, that gained international recognition. Combining three different narratives: the past, present and the future, the book explores the relationship between humans, nature and animals alongside the dire impact of climate change.

The History of Bees, which has been compared to the works of distinguished authors Kazuo Ishiguro and Emily St. John Mandel, was followed by her next two novels: The End of the Ocean and The Last Wild Horses, examining the idea that our current lifestyle is slowly, but surely, destroying our beautiful planet.

Swedish Camilla Läckberg certainly belongs to the ranks of the most beloved Scandinavian female crime authors. But she almost missed her calling, having first started out her career as an economist and only turned to writing novels later on in life. In 2003, she published her first book, The Ice Princess which follows protagonist Ericka Falck, who, after a gruesome murder of her childhood friend teams up with a local detective to get to the bottom of the horrifying events.

In the past two decades, Läckberg has produced numerous Nordic Noir smash hits, including the Fjällbacka Series, sequel to The Ice Princess. In the 10-novel series, we see Ericka, together with detective Patrik Hedström faced with more grisly, multi-layered murder mysteries that shake the quiet fishing town of Sweden’s Fjällbacka.

So, what’s her secret? Läckberg’s success is her engrossing mysteries and multi-dimensional characters who evolve again and again during the series. Plus, she is an author who possesses that important knack for understanding the twists and turns of the human psyche.