The Home of Strindberg

In the late 1800s, many poets and artists discovered Sandhamn, unlike tullinspector Elias Sehlstedt (https://reveal.world/sv/story/sandhamnstullen-och-den-ofrivillige-tullare). One of the most well-known is August Strindberg.   For the first time, at the age of 18, he followed on a skiff and was provided with food and accommodation at the Kjellströmska farm. The house he stayed in is now known as the Strindberg Farmhouse. Strindberg took a great interest in the lives and work of the lighthouse keepers and wanted to settle on Korsö.  

He returned to Sandhamn in 1873 and was then lodged by the lighthouse keeper Edvard Wass. It is said that Wass told many tales about his rich sailor's life, tales that Strindberg is said to have written down. It is also said of a jovial Strindberg who, at one point, went out into the strait and threw a multitude of manuscripts and papers into the sea. Who knows - maybe it was a great deal of literary masterpieces that went lost.

As husband to Siri von Essen, Strindberg stayed on Sandhamn on several occasions. At a farewell dinner at the customs house, customs over-inspector Ekbohrn is said to have told that Strindberg had claimed to be the world's greatest writer, which Ekbohrn agreed with. However, when Strindberg claimed to be the world's greatest scientist, Ekbohrn refused to agree with him. Strindberg became very angry and left the island without taking leave. He didn't return to Sandhamn after that.

Sources: Eknö Homestead Association (www.eknohemman.se) - Exhibition on Sandhamn, https://www.destinationsandhamn.se/om-sandhamn/historia