Background
Kerstin Lillemor Ekman (born Kerstin Lillemor Hjorth) was born on August 27, 1933 in Risinge, Finspång Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden. Her father was a manufacturer.
Kerstin Lillemor Ekman (born Kerstin Lillemor Hjorth) was born on August 27, 1933 in Risinge, Finspång Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden. Her father was a manufacturer.
Kerstin graduated from the Uppsala University with a M.A. in 1957.
Kerstin Ekman worked as a high school teacher of Swedish and Swedish literature. She also worked as a literary critic. As a writer, Ekman wrote a string of successful detective novels, but later went on to psychological and social themes. Her first novel "Haendelser vid vatten" was published in English, translated by Joan Tate as "Blackwater".
Ekman was elected member of the Swedish Academy in 1978, but left the Academy in 1989, together with Lars Gyllensten and Werner Aspenström, due to the debate following death threats posed to Salman Rushdie. According to the rules of the Academy, however, she will remain a passive member for the entirety of her life.
Kerstin was married to Stig Ekman, but they divorced. Currently she is married to Börje Frelin. She also has a child, Magnus Ekman.