Strindberg was born in Stockholm. His father, proud of a trace of aristocratic blood, was a shipping agent, but business success was relatively modest. His mother, Ulrika Eleanora Norling, had a proletarian background. She was a tailor's daughter, who had been a domestic servant and become his farher's mistress. Ulrika Eleanora died when Strindberg was 13 years old and when he published in 1886 his autobiographical novel, he titled it The Son of a Servant.

In 1867 Strindberg entered the University of Uppsala, where he failed to pass the preliminary examination in chemistry. After working for a short time at the Royal Dramatic Theatre, he wrote for the stage three plays that were rejected. Strindberg returned then to his studies in Uppsala and completed in 1872 a senior candidacy. Back in Stockholm Strindberg worked as a journalist and wrote the historical drama Master Olof. In 1874 he become assistant librarian at the Royal Library. He married in 1877 Siri von Essen, a member of the Swedish aristocracy in Finland.

Strinberg´s first published novel, RÖDA RUMMET (1879), a story about frauds and abuses in Stockholm society, made him nationally famous and started his career as one of the most prominet figures in Nordic literature and culture. Strindberg'srejected play Master Olof was produced in 1881 and was received with enthusiasm. In 1883 Strinberg moved to France with his family. During this time he corresponded with Friedrich Nietzsche, and become interested of the works of Edgar Allan Poe. Strindberg returned to Sweden in 1889. He devorced two years later and moved then to Berlin, where he met Frida Uhl, his second wife, whom he married in 1893.

Between the years 1892 and 1897 Strindberg experienced several psychotic episodes, and recorded his 'inferno crisis' later in the book Inferno.

Strindberg moved to Stockholm and wrote during the productive years from 1898 to 1909 thirty-six plays. In 1908 Strindberg settled into a house he called 'the Blue Tower' and lived there until his death from stomach cancer in May 1912. - Strindberg's influnce had been wide and his impact is seen among others in the works of such playwrights as Harold Pinter, Samuel Beckett, John Osborne and John Arden.

For further reading: The Greatest Fire: A Study of August Strindberg by B. Steene (1982); August Strindberg by W. Johnson (1978); August Strindberg by M. Lamm (1971)

Selected works:

• FRITÄNKAREN, 1869 - THE FREETHINKER
• MÄSTER OLOF, 1872
• RÖDA RUMMET - THE RED ROOM, 1879
• SVENSKA ÖDEN OCH ÄVENTYR, 1882-94
• GIFTAS - MARRIED, 1884-85
• FADREN - THE FATHER, 1887
• EN DÅRES FÖRSVALSTAL, 1887
• HEMSÖBORNA - THE PEOPLE OF HEMSÖ, 1887
• EN DÅRES FÖRSVALTAL, 1887
• FRÖKEN JULIE - MISS JULIE, 1888
• SKÄRKARLSLIV, 1888
• TSCHANDALA, 1888
• PARIA, 1889 - PARIAH
• CREDITÖRER - THE CREDITORS, 1890
• DEBET OCH KREDIT, 1892 - DEBIT AND CREDIT
• FÖRSTA VARNINGEN, 1893 - THE FIRST WARNING
• LEKA MED ELDEN, 1893 - PLAYING WITH FIRE
• MODERSKÄRLEK, 1894 - MOTHERSLOVE
• INFERNO, 1898
• TILL DAMASKUS 1-3, 1898-1901 - TO DAMASCUS
• LEGENDER, 1898 - Legendoja
• ADVENT, ETT MYSTERIUM, 1898
• GUSTAV VASA, 1899
• ERIK XIV, 1899
• GUSTAF ADOLF, 1900
• BROTT OCH BROTT, 1900 - CRIME AND CRIME
• DÖDSDANSEN 1-2, 1900 - THE DANCE OF DEATH 1-2
• PÅSK, 1901 - EASTER
• FOLKUNGASAGAN, 1901 - THE SAGA OF THE FOLKUNGS
• KRISTINA, 1901 - QUEEN CHRISTINA
• KARL XII, 1902 - CHARLES XII
• KRONBRUDEN, 1902
• ETT DRÖNSPEL - A DREAM PLAY, 1902
• ENSAM - ALONE, 1903
• GÖTISKA RUMMEN, 1904
• SVARTA FANOR - BLACK BANNERS, 1907
• OVÄDER, 1907 - STORM WEATHER
• BRÄNDA TOMTEN, 1907 - THE BURNED HOUSE
• SYNDABOCKEN, 1907
• BRÄNDA TOMTEN, 1907 - THE BURNED HOUSE
• PELIKANEN, 1907 - THE PELICAN
• OVÄDER, 1907 - THE STORM WEATHER
• SPÖKSONATEN - THE GHOST SONATA, 1907
• SISTE RIDDAREN, 1909 - THE LAST OF THE KNIGHTS
• STORA LANDSVÄGEN, 1910 - THE GREAT HIGHWAY
• KLOSTRET, 1966