Mare Kandre

Who was Mare Kandre?

Mare Kandre was a Swedish writer of Estonian descent. She was born on May 27, 1962 in Söderala, a small place in mid-Sweden and grew up in Gothenburg and Stockholm. A few years between 1967 and 1969 she lived with her family in B.C., Canada, a period which made a very deep impression on her and later in life had an impact on her writing. She died on 24 March 2005, aged 42.

Mare Kandre achieved considerable acclaim in Scandinavia and her works have been translated into more than eight languages. Her novels, short stories and prose poetry often deals with children's, in particular girls', development to grownups, about woman roles and about marginalized and traumatized individuals that opt to break against society's expectations.

Mare Kandre's stories have a marked metaphysical dimension which is strengthened by her poetical language and representation, with existential themes that link to society's contemporary main issues. In her writing she often returns to issues like the adjustment to the woman role, how an inner alienation is founded and the significance of instincts. Several of her books were influenced by Gothic fiction.