Ulf Stark

He was born in Stockholm into the family of a dentist. The early death of his mother left an indelible mark on his life. Stark preserved his childhood, both joyful and sad, within himself forever, and this is probably the reason for his success as a writer. He studied pedagogy and psychology, made his literary debut in 1964, and in 1984 decided to devote himself entirely to children.

Ulf Stark, whose popularity throughout the world grows from year to year, was born in 1944 in Stockholm. He made his debut in 1964 as an author of books for adults. Stark’s first works for children were published in 1975 and 1976. In 1984 he decided to devote himself entirely to children’s literature. Today he is considered one of the most famous and respected children’s writers in the world; he collaborated with illustrators Anna Höglund and Mati Lepp. His works have received prestigious awards. In 1998 he received the Nordic Children’s Book Prize, and in 2000 the International Jury of the Hans Christian Andersen Award honored his achievements with a special diploma.

His first book, Peter and the Red Bird. Peter and the Piglets, was published in Russian in 1981 by Detskaya Literatura.

According to critics and readers, he is a true heir to Astrid Lindgren: the writer is not afraid of speaking frankly with young people, does not avoid the most difficult topics, and honestly and with a great deal of humor insists on dialogue between generations. His style is clear and accessible, the plots are close to children and teenagers all over the world, and his knowledge of the psychology of children and adolescents, combined with his remarkable directness of expression, makes his works understandable and close to readers in all countries.

He is married to Janina Orlov, a Finnish Swedish-language translator and professor at Stockholm University.