Ekerwald, born in Östersund in 1923, debuted as an author in 1959 with "The Fire and the Bird's Nest" and has written several depictions of Norrland. During his long authorship, he wrote novels, essays, and biographies – which often revolved around existential questions, philosophy, and literary history.
He was also active as a subject teacher and principal, and became a honorary doctor of philosophy at Umeå University in 1986. He was awarded several times for his authorship, including the Gerhard Bonnier Prize of 300,000 kronor in 2023.
With "The Forest Keeper's Boy" (2002), Ekerwald began his memoirs, and his last book "The Advantage of Growing Old" was published in 2023. In an interview in the magazine Senioren the same year, he reflected on aging:
"People complain that it's boring to grow old. You lose the future. Then I turn it all around. The advantage of growing old is that you don't have a future. You avoid all plans. You have become free."
Carl-Göran Ekerwald became 101 years old.
