Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (November 20, 1858 – March 16, 1940) was a Swedish author and teacher, and the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature (1909). She is best known for works such as "The Wonderful Adventures of Nils" (1906-07), "Gösta Berling's Saga" (1891), and "The Phantom Carriage" (1912). Her stories are filled with folkloric elements, deep humanity, and profound emotional depth. Lagerlöf's works have been translated into many languages and she is considered one of Sweden's greatest authors of all time.