- When we are at the top of our ability, how do we get away from it?

The quote comes from Kristina Lugn, according to historian and author Peter Englund. In a post on instagram, he remembers his former colleague at the Swedish Academy:

"Dearest Kristina, no other member could make me so happy, so excited, so confused, so inspired, so road, so puzzled, so uplifted, so warm in my heart."

Academy member and author Per Wästberg describes Kristina Lugn as one of her closest friends, as someone he will forever miss.

- We exchanged e-mails literally every day for several years. When I did not hear from her now in a few days I became very worried and contacted her daughter, who went up and found her dead, Per Wästberg tells TT.

"A star has been extinguished"

The author and literary researcher Horace Engdahl describes her as one of the closest comrades in the Academy.

- It's really like a star has gone out. She gave a special salt to the Academy which is irreplaceable. Nobody can be Kristina Lugn, says Engdahl.

Peter Englund, who holds chair 20 in the Swedish Academy, writes on instagram that he often sat next to Kristina Lugn to hear her stories - and how he remembers their work together in the Academy.

“We sat opposite each other during the meetings and used to exchange looks and giggles when someone said something unusually stupid. Last year I used to hug you when we saw and say "How is it, old man?" And you replied, "How is it, GUBBEN?" I miss you already."

Commends the efforts of the literature

Per Wästberg and Kristina Lugn used to eat scones and drink tea regularly. He tells TT that he will remember her playfulness, gallows humor, word-making - and her great contribution to literature.

- She was a genius at operation and on fan. Such a planless trembling in language and in reality. I will remember that I asked her every Thursday meeting what had happened, what disaster she had been through. She had been robbed on a bridge in the Old Town, lost her key, stuck in an elevator. She was so distracted and forgot things. But she still managed somehow. She was like an inconsolable child who moved up and gathered together a piece of reality that became her property, says Per Wästberg.

Horace Engdahl also highlights her work as poet and playwright.

- She has meant a lot not least to the theater and to make it possible to portray women in other ways. She will have a safe place in Swedish literature, he says.