"En mycket boksynt man" Karl-Gunnar Walls liv som stadsbibliotekarie och litteraturvän
The purpose of this master thesis is to describe the professional and literary life of Karl-Gunnar Wall, city librarian of Katrineholm between 1944 and 1975. Questions at issue are the reasons for Walls literary interests, Walls choice of occupation, crucial personal meetings, the context in which Wall acts, Walls fundamental principles as a librarian and as a critic, and the features comprising Walls life history. The method used is a merely qualitative one called "life history". It is founded on in-depth interviews with the persons involved and emanates from the individuals own story about his life. I have carried out three taped interviews; one with Wall himself, and two with his colleagues. Furthermore, I have used library records, newspaper articles, letters and various literature. The study finds that Walls life paradigm is professionally orientated. The historical context and the literary climate of the 1940s are important parts in understanding Wall. His literary and linguistic interests develop during his time of study, which helps him to find a suitable career as the city librarian of Katrineholm. Thus Wall shapes his own life in accordance with the structures of society.