The author Gabriela Melinescu has passed away, 82 years old, according to the Romanian Cultural Institute.
Melinescu came to Sweden in 1975 after fleeing the dictatorship in her home country, something she writes about in her autobiographical novel "Mamma som Gud" from 2010.
Melinescu wrote both prose and poetry. Among her most well-known works are the childhood depiction "Trädet i blåsten", the poetry collection "Ljus mot ljus", and the novel "Hemma utomlands", which was published in 2003. The same year, Melinescu was awarded the De Nio Prize.
After the fall of communism, Melinescu worked in both Sweden and Romania, where she received several fine awards, including the Writers' Association Prize.
Melinescu also translated Swedish literature into Romanian, including works by August Strindberg, Stig Dagerman, and Agneta Pleijel.