Education
He then continued his academic career at Lund University, where he in 1908 defended his Doctor of Philosophy thesis on aspect in Polish.
He then continued his academic career at Lund University, where he in 1908 defended his Doctor of Philosophy thesis on aspect in Polish.
Agrell"s parents were Frans Vilhelm Agrell and Ida Vendela Örtenholm. After graduating from secondary school in Norrmalm in 1898, he was admitted to Uppsala University, where he earned his licentiate degree in 1907. He received his doctoral degree in 1909 and was later appointed associate professor (docent) at the same university.
Having taught at Lund University since 1908, Agrell became professor of Slavic languages in 1921.
He translated a number of Russian books, such as Slavic legends, and Ivan Bunin"s stories. His 1925 translation of Leo Tolstoy"s Anna Karenina was for a long time the standard translation of this novel in Sweden.
At first, however, it was criticized for being more personal and original that a previous translation by Walborg Hedberg. Alongside his work in Slavic languages, Agrell was also interested in runology, and published a number of papers in this field
He began his poetic career as a 16-year-old secondary school student in Örebro, where he contributed with translations and own poems to Lingvo internacia, an Esperanto magazine that had been published in Uppsala since 1895.
Among others, he translated poems by Swedish authors Erik Johan Stagnelius and Per Daniel Amadeus Atterbom. During his studies in Uppsala, Agrell belonged, together with John Landquist, Sven Lidman and Harald Brising to Les quatre diables, a group of students with literary interests. Agrell wrote mainly symbolist poetry, with an emphasis on form, but his interest in writing diminished as modern free verse poetry gained popularity in Sweden.
At the same time, he became more focused on his academic work.
He is perhaps most known for his work in runology, particularly for formulating the Uthark theory. He focused on the magical and mystical aspects of runes (gematria).
Agrell married Anna Elvira Osterman. He died in 1937 and is buried at Norra kyrkogården in Lund.
1903 - Arabesker
1905 - Solitudo
1906 - Hundra och en sonett
1908 - Den dolda örtagården
1909 - Purpurhjärtat
1912 - Antika kaméer
1931 - Valda dikter.