Hallström, Per (pâr häl'ström) [key], 1866–1960, Swedish short-story writer, dramatist, and poet. Before devoting himself to writing, Hallström worked in London and Chicago as a chemist. He is appreciated primarily for his collections of short stories, such as Purpur [purple] (1895) and Thanatos [death] (1900). His major works, written before 1910, combine profound compassion with a sensitive awareness of beauty.
