August Strindberg was born in Stockholm in 1849. Strindberg was the third child of the shipping merchant Carl Oscar Strindberg and his former domestic servant Ulrika Eleonora Norling. Before he became a writer he studied at Uppsala university and worked as a librarian and journalist. He was a very productive author. He wrote novels, plays, poetry and over 7,000 letters! The collected works consists of 55 volumes. August Strindberg was also a very good painter. But he failed to make gold in spite of hard efforts. 1874 Strindberg is appointed assistant librarian at the Royal Library in Stockholm. His first major work, the play Master Olof, was written in 1877, but was not recognized until 1881. Strindberg„s breakthrough as a writer came with the novel The Red Room (1879). In 1886 Strindberg completes the biografical novel The Son of a Servant , "this long and boring walk through the shadow land of memory" as Strindberg wrote.

Siri von Essen "Siri I loved the most"

Marriages In 1877 he marries Baroness Siri von Essen . Siri was seven months pregnant at the time of the marriage, the child died and they later had three children, Karin, Greta and the son Hans. 1888, living in Denmark, Strindberg writes the play Miss Julie, which is staged 1889 with his wife Siri von Essen in the title role. In "A Madman's Defense" Strindberg wrote about his first marriage, torn between adoration and contempt. After twelve years they divorce and Strindberg, not feeling appreciated in Sweden, moves to central Europe. After a couple of years of "artist life" with people like Edvard Munch and Gaughin he marries the young Austrian Frieda Uhl . After a stormy year travelling in Europe they divorce.

Tears of Joy

"I got her with child immediately."

From the "Occult Diary" Strindberg kept his "Occult Diary" for more than ten years. The extract below is from 1908. He has divorced Harriet Bosse and she is planning to remarry with another man. But in Strindberg´s fantasy she still visits him, mostly at nighttime .

April 20th. This evening she came again, like roses, loving and full of longing. Night came; she slept on my arm, but did not desire me until towards morning, then ... April 21st. The whole morning, solely as roses. Later she disappeared! In the evening she returned, but went again. At night apathetic and calm until the morning,when she sought me ... April 23rd. A heavy day, spent in idleness. Slept much. Harriet away, but towards evening could feel her stretching for me below the chest. !!Went to bed, grew calmer. No contact with Harriet during the night. I sought her but did not find her until 5 o´clock, ... April 24th. A glorius morning. Harriet was with me all forenoon, gentle, loving, like flowers in my mouth! Is she literally two persons? And do I possess one? The better one? That would seem to be the case, for when we meet or write we hate each other. Is this possible?

Death

Finally Strindberg released himself from Bosse, quit the Occult Diary and moved to a new apartment. Now followed some very productive years with highlights such as the plays Easter and The Dance of Death. Strindberg died in May, 1912. His modest grave with just a wooden cross bears the Latin inscription: O Crux Ave Spes Unica! (O Cross, Be Greeted, Our Only Hope)