Dick Harrison

Dick Walther Harrison, born on April 10, 1966, in Huddinge, Sweden, is a prominent Swedish historian. He holds a professorship in history at Lund University, where his academic focus includes the European Middle Ages, the medical history of the period, and the history of slavery. Harrison pursued his doctoral studies, earning a PhD at the age of 21. Early in his career, he contributed extensively to the Swedish National Encyclopaedia (NE) and Bra Böcker’s Lexicon 2000, producing numerous concise historical texts under tight deadlines. This foundational experience honed his writing efficiency and ability to conduct thorough research, shaping his prolific output in historical literature.

Throughout his career, Harrison has authored over 105 books, covering a wide range of historical subjects. His non-fiction works include “Stora döden: den värsta katastrof som drabbat Europa” (The Black Death: the Worst Disaster to Strike Europe) which won the August Prize in 2000, and “Jarlens sekel: en berättelse om 1200-talets Sverige” (The Earl’s Century: an Account of 13th Century Sweden) recognized as the Swedish history book of the year in 2002. He has also explored historical fiction, with a trilogy about Ulvbjörn Vamodsson, a fictitious 7th-century warrior. Harrison is actively involved in public history, writing articles for “Populär Historia,” hosting a podcast “Harrisons dramatiska historia” with his wife, and serving as a regular expert on Swedish TV and radio. He was the historical consultant and co-host for a 12-episode TV series on Swedish history produced by TV4, released in two parts in 2010 and 2011.

Beyond his literary and media work, Harrison is dedicated to teaching, considering it his primary calling. He frequently lectures to the general public on diverse historical subjects and maintains an active presence at Lund University. His efforts in popularizing history have been widely recognized, although he also notes the challenges within academic circles regarding public engagement. In 2010, he married Katarina Lindbergh, with whom he also collaborates on various projects. Harrison’s work has garnered him several awards, including the Clio Prize in 1996 and Duke Carl’s Prize in 2001, underscoring his significant contributions to historical scholarship and public understanding of history.