So, dear reader of HTBS, how many of the ‘famous’ Swedes did you know or recognise? The quiz was a mix of film actresses, writers, pop stars, sport stars, celebrities, a diplomat, a ‘Royal Hotness’, an innovator, a singer. Was it difficult? I guess some of these persons could be tricky. Here are the right answers:

1) ABBA, pop group, Björn Ulvaeus (1945-), Agnetha Fältskog (1950-), Anni-Frid ‘Frida’ Lyngstad (1945-) and Benny Andersson (1946-)

2) Greta Garbo (1905-1990), film actress

3) Björn Borg (1956-), tennis player

4) Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982), film actress

5) Ingmar Bergman (1918-2007), writer, director, producer

6) Madeleine (1982-), Princess

7) Alfred Nobel (1833-1896), engineer, innovator

8) Pippi Longstocking, the world strongest girl, fictional character created by Astrid Lindgren (1907-2002). The monkey’s Swedish name is Herr Nilsson (Mr. Nilsson)

 9)  August Strindberg (1849-1912), playwright, novelist

10) Noomi Rapace (1979-), film actress, who played Lisbeth Salander

11) Zlatan Ibrahimovic (1981-), football [soccer] player

12) Jenny Lind (1820-1887) ‘The Swedish Nightingale’, opera singer

13) Dag Hammarskjöld (1905-1960), diplomat, UN Secretary-General

14) Victoria Silverstedt (1974-), model, ‘film actress’

I received an e-mail yesterday from Australian rowing historian Louis Petrin, who had nailed all the answers, including Herr Nilsson, and for that he gets an extra point. Well done, Louis, I am very impressed!

Scores:
12 correct answers or more: regard yourself an ‘Honorary Swede’
9 – 11 correct answers: very good
6 – 8 correct answers: good
4 – 5 correct answers: a little bad
2 – 3 correct answers: well, ehh… poor (surely, you can do better…)
0 – 1 correct answer: you don’t like Swedes, do you?