Gabriel Jönsson


Gabriel Jönsson was a Swedish author and poet. He is best known for works inspired by Öresund and farming.

Early life

Jonsson was born into a Baptist religious family. His father Peter was a seaman, but due to back injuries caused by carrying bricks, he started a trading post in Ålabodarna, and later on the island Hven, Husvik. Gabriel's mother was hired to work at the Husvik store and later married Jönsson's father. Peter Jönsson died 1901, when Jönsson was 7. At that time he had 2 brothers and 1 sister.
The mother was a good businesswoman. Jönsson’s wish was to become a seaman like his father, but his mother wanted him to be educated. She paid for her three sons' education. Jönsson studied first in Helsingborg, at the Högre Allmänna Läroverket "Higher Public Learning Institute" and later at Lund University, although he did not graduate.

Published works

The poem "Vid Vakten" from the book Flaskpost "Message in a bottle" was turned into a popular song in Sweden "Flickan från Backafall" by Gunnar Turesson and is today a signature song of the island Hven, where Backafall is located. Backafall translated to English means "falling slope" and is a reference to the area between the white church on the island of Hven's west side and small harbor of the same name below.
The song describes a young seaman in the Caribbean on a long voyage longing for his girlfriend at home that is waiting for him.