P E R W Ä S T B E R G
born November 20, 1933 in Stockholm, Sweden.
BA (comparative lit) Harvard University USA 1955. PhD Uppsala University 1962 (thesis on the African novel 1945-60).
Critic and columnist in Dagens Nyheter, Sweden´s main daily, 1953-1997.
Chief Editor of Dagens Nyheter 1976-82.
Member of the European Academy of Arts & Sciences since 1980.
Honorary Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Stockholm 1995.
Grand Companion of O.R.Tambo 2009 – S. Africa.
Member of the Swedish Academy since 1997.
President of its Nobel Committee for Literature since 2005.
President of Swedish PEN 1967-78.
President of International PEN 1979-86 and 89-90. Honorary President since then.
Founder of Swedish Amnesty 1964. Member of the executive board of Amnesty International (London) 65-71.
Founder and chairman of the Swedish South Africa Committee 60-75.
Chairman of Swedish Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa 80-92.
Board member of Scandinavian Institute of African Studies 80-88.
Board member of SIDA Commission for humanitarian assistance 1965-93.
Board member of The Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm 1999-2007.
President of the Swedish Rome Institute and the Foundation San Michele 1997-2004.
Chairman of S:t Erik Foundation 1994-99.
Vice chairman of Stockholm City Council commission for environment and preservation 1984-99.
Member of the directorate of Uppsala University 1990-94.
President of Pilot Prize jury (Sweden´s main literary award) 1985-96, of the Övralid Prize since 1995, the Tomas Tranströmer Prize since 1998 and the Wahlström & Widstrand Wästberg prize since 1993.
Published about sixty books.