Almanac of Story Tellers: Sweden's Constitution

 Every day brings a new story.  And each day contributes to the art of story telling -- in prose and poetry, in music, on the stage, on the screen, and, of course, in books. 

Today is the story of December 2nd.

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    It is the 336th day of the year, leaving 29 days in 2021.

Gazzetta di Mantova, first
 published in Italy in 1664, is
 the oldest extant newspaper.

    On this date in 1766, Sweden became the first country to write freedom of the press into its constitution, giving that nation's story-tellers the ability to speak and write freely. Although journals of thought and newspapers are as old as Ancient Rome, they flourished across Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, causing countries to either support or censor them. When the United States wrote its constitition in 1783, it included freedom of the press in its first amendment. 

    Yet, such freedom to speak and write is not an absolute right. 

    While stressing the need for openness, and the need to hold authorities accountable for their actions, Sweden says abusing freedom of speech "can be offensive, incite discrimination or violence," or have other negative consequences. The Office of the Chancellor of Justice deals with suspected violations against the free press and expression laws.

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    Today is the birthday of  writer and novelist Ann Patchett. Born in 1963, she started writing at Seventeen magazine, and later was an award-winning reporter at the Nashville Banner. She wrote for numerous other newspaper and magazines. 

    Her first novel, The Patron Saint of Liars, was published in 1992. She has gone on to write more than a dozen other books, including The Dutch House, Commonwealth, and State of Wonder. In 2002, she received the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Orange Prize for her novel, Bel Canto. She is a co-owner of Parnassus Books, a bookstore in Nashville, Tenn., where she lives.