Swedish Icons

About this event

This class meets weekly on Thursdays from October 1–29, 2026. Enjoy four historic Thursday evenings with Jessica Karlsson, an ASI Language Instructor and Historian, this October. In this lecture series, participants will meet four intriguing Swedish Icons and learn about their lasting impact on the world through an historic lens. Suffragettes, diplomats, champions of childrens’ rights, inventors, and more, don’t miss this opportunity to dive into history and get to know these Swedish greats! Oct 1 – Astrid Lindgren, 1907–2002 Mostly known as the author of Pippi Longstocking, Astrid Lindgren was a prolific and far-reaching author of childrens’ books translated across the globe, as well as a champion of childrens’ rights. Oct 8 – Raoul Wallenberg, 1912–unknown Raoul Wallenberg became a Swedish Diplomat who traveled to Budapest and saved tens of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust in 1944 before ultimately disappearing. Oct 22 – Selma Lagerlöf, 1858–1940 Lagerlöf was not only the first woman ever to receive the Nobel Prize in literature in 1909, but also was an active member in the Swedish suffrage movement and stood up for the underserved in society. Oct 29 – Alfred Nobel 1833–1896 Alfred Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite and the founder of the prestigious Nobel Prize but was also an intriguing figure of contrasts. Additional information: No materials or knowledge of Swedish required. Instructor will use slideshows in combination with printed materials. Advance registration required. No class on October 15.

Description from asimn.org