CARL ÅKERLUND
Fiction
FATHERLAND
Rights and awards
Rights
Sweden
Carl Åkerlund, a literary writer and cultural commentator, was editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Provins between 2018-2022. He has also written plays, musical theatre, and song lyrics, in addition to criticism, essays and cultural journalism. FATHERLAND, Carl’s literary debut, was published by Weyler Förlag in September 2025.
Carl grew up in Västerbotten, in northern Sweden, and now lives in Stockholm with his family. In his writing, Carl interrogates how historical perspectives, national self-image and collective myth-making influence how we view ourselves, and he often writes about grief, love, loyalty and bad choices.
– Tell us more about your debut novel and what inspired you to write about these particular themes?
Sweden has been at peace for over 200 years. At some point, I began to take an interest in what was actually hidden in that statement. I wanted to write a narrative about the perspective of history, national self-image and collective myth-making, as well as about who we think we are, and, equally, who we become when the ground begins to shake and give way beneath our feet.
Bibliography
2025 – Fatherland (Fädernesland), novel
Author photo
Sofia Runarsdotter. For photo rights please contact the photographer at sofia.runarsdotter@gmail.com