Ivar Lo-Johansson wrote over 50 proletarian novels and short-stories, all of which carried vivid portrayals of working-class people.

[6] He described the situation of the Swedish land-workers, statare,[7] in his novels, short stories, and journalism, which encouraged the adoption of certain land reforms in Sweden.

[8] Lo-Johansson first came to the literary fore in the mid-1930s with the publication of his novel Godnatt, jord (Good night, earth, 1933) and two short story collections.

[3] Lo-Johansson is best known for his memoirs, vivid recollections of the life in Swedish trade-unionist and literary circles of the twenties, thirties and forties.

A great example of this motif is character of the farm servant's wife in the novel Bara en mor (1939, Only A Mother).

[11] The Stockholm city library describes Lo-Johansson as "one of our greatest proletarian writers" and an "innovator of Swedish realistic prose, engaged with social issues like care of the elderly and the question of tied labour.