Ole Lund Kirkegaard (29 July 1940, in Aarhus – 24 March 1979) was a Danish writer of children's and youth literature, as well as a teacher. He mainly wrote about the interactions between adults and children. The main character in his books is usually an anti-hero. In 1969, he was awarded with the Danish Ministry of Culture's children book prize (Kulturministeriets Børnebogspris) Kirkegaard grew up in Skanderborg just south of Aarhus, and many of his stories were inspired by his own childhood experiences there. He also illustrated his own books. On a cold winter night in 1979, after having had too much to drink, he fell in the snow on his way home and could not get up again. He froze to death on the spot, at just 38 years of age. A street in Skanderborg is named after him (Ole Lund Kirkegaards Stræde).

Films

The stories of Ole Lund Kirkegaard have inspired several Danish films, including a TV series in 1977.

Sources and further reading