He studied painting in Stockholm and was a jazz musician before making his literary debut in 1967 with Lokomotivet som frös fast.

During his early career, Harding travelled extensively in America, and this influenced his work.

Alongside this, he has written essays, a book about the origins of jazz called Kreol, and a few stories.

[6] He has been a member of the Samfundet De Nio (chair number 5) since 1993[7] and served on the 1973 Swedish Bible committion 1981–1989.

[8] Harding's literary significance is partly as an introducer of foreign modernism, especially French, American and British poetry, into Swedish literature.