Susanna Roxman (born Pia Susanna Ellinor Roxman; 29 August 1946 – 30 September 2015) was an Anglophone writer, poet and critic born in Stockholm; her father’s family is Scottish. She was considered a gifted child. Her first few books were written in Swedish, but she switched over to English as her professional language. After having worked for some years as a secretary, a ballet teacher, and a fashion model, Roxman studied at Stockholm University, King’s College at London University, Lund University, and Gothenburg University,[1][2] where she earned a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature. From 1996 to 2005 she headed the Centre of Classical Mythology at Lund University. She had several collections of poetry published, as well as literary criticism.[2] Her poems have also appeared in literary magazines world-wide. Some of these pieces have been translated into Arabic and Persian. Roxman has taken part in many poetry readings, notably at the Edinburgh Festival (2006, 2009, 2010, 2013).[3]
1978 – Riva villor (poetry collection). Bokád, Stockholm.
1983 – Nymferna kommer (poetry collection; illustrated by Stefan Sjoberg). Kalejdoskop, Ahus.
1985 – Glom de doda (poetry collection). Symposion, Gothenburg and Stockholm.
Written in English
1984 – Guilt and Glory: Studies in Margaret Drabble’s Novels 1963–80 (literary criticism). Gothenburg University/Almqvist & Wiksell International, Stockholm. This book was an Amazon bestseller.[5]
2001 – October (poetry). Handbound miniature book. Artwork by Alicia Bailey. Ravenpress, Lake City, Colorado.
2003 – Emblems of Classical Deities in Ancient and Modern Pictorial Arts (encyclopaedia for university students). Department of Classics and Semitics/Lund University.
2007 – Imagining Seals (poetry collection). Dionysia Press, Edinburgh. (Supported by the Scottish Arts Council.) This book was an Amazon bestseller.[6]
2013 -- Crossing the North Sea (poetry collection). Dionysia Press, Edinburgh. (Supported by Creative Scotland, formerly the Scottish Arts Council.)
Contributions
Literary magazines
Roxman has contributed poems and lyrical prose to more than 60 literary magazines world-wide. These include:[3]
In Britain: Stand, Orbis, Magma, Staple, London Miscellany.
In the United States: Prairie Schooner, The Spoon River Poetry Review, Crab Orchard Review, Cimarron Review,[7]Visions International.
In Canada: The Fiddlehead, Grain, Wascana Review, Room of One’s Own.
She has also written reviews which have appeared in magazines, including Prairie Schooner, The Spoon River Poetry Review,
Poetry Salzburg Review, Dance Magazine, and Plays & Players.
Encyclopaedias
Three articles in The Continuum Encyclopedia of British Literature, edited by Valerie Grosvenor Myer and Steven R. Serafin. Continuum, New York 2003.
Three articles in New Makers of Modern Culture, edited by Justin Wintle. Routledge, London, 2006.
Two articles in The Concise New Makers of Modern Culture, edited by Justin Wintle. Routledge, London, 2008.[1][8]
Websites
Poems of Roxman’s appear on her own website, as well as on the Greek Mythology Link.[9]
Book fairs
Roxman´s English-language poetry collections have been displayed at book fairs world-wide, including:
The Edinburgh International Book Festival (2006, 2009, 2010, 2013).
Susanna Roxman has contributed many review articles on literature and ballet to the arts pages of some of the national newspapers in Sweden. These include Dagens Nyheter, Arbetet (now folded), Sydsvenska Dagbladet, and Aftonbladet.[11]