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Gustaf Frödings (1860-1911), lived at Alsters Herrgård for only a year. It was one of the three houses his wealthy grandfather had built. Gustaf was born in a second floor room. The family moved away because papa Frödings ruined the family business and squandered the cash. This was only one aspect of the family’s woes.
Gustaf’s mother, Emilia, was a bit mad. When he came back from Uppsala University, she said he was too hoity toity; claimed he was suddenly emulating Lord Byron. He may have done, after all he would become Värmland’s favourite poet.
A lot of his poems have been turned into songs; lovely idyllic rural songs. Well, if the one we heard today is anything to go by. It was sung to us by our surprise guide.
We had been told by Kiki that there was no English guide today. She had given us a guide book in English and we went upstairs to conduct the tour ourselves. Well, with the usual Mirinda, skilfully at the helm.
The Swedish tour was about to leave as we were standing in the library finding out about Gustav’s grandfather. Suddenly, Malin appeared. She’d just finished with the group and decided to give us an English tour anyway.
And it was marvellous. She was an amazing guide. Full of life, information, and a lovely voice. Obviously, her English was superb.
We found out everything Gustav Frödinge from his choice to drink rather than study at Uppsala to his sad death in 1911. From his sister, Hedda (who became the first woman banker in Sweden but had to leave because she developed a compulsive disorder that caused her to continuously wash her hands and arms after handling money) to his parents who left him when he was born (his father to escape the humiliation of his lack of business acumen and his mother to a mental institution in Denmark).
Not to mention his sister Mathilde, who became a morphine addict.
There was also his incredibly selfless sister, Cecilia, who cared for him till he died, and, the biggest surprise, he was related to Selma Lagerlöf.
While that may sound unimportant, it’s actually perfect for the beginning of our week away.
We are in Varmland because we are going to see an adaptation of a Lagerlöf story this week. And it’s being performed near her home. The link with Gustav was a delightful coincidence.
Mirinda found this excellent place and decided we’d love to go. Obviously, Jason had no choice. Fortunately, he enjoyed it. He also got to practice his Swedish. That’s obviously a good thing.
Eventually, we left Alsters Herrgård and headed the ten minutes to our hotel for the night. I then enjoyed a few beers in the bar emulating Gustav while Jason swam in the river and Mirinda had a nap.
A wonderful start to our week away.
