The author draws a portrait of his teacher Bernhard Karlgren (1889-1978), whose research in a variety of fields laid the foundations of modern Sinology. The work deals with Karlgren's childhood, school years, university studies at Uppsala and St. Petersburg, adventurous sojourn in China, studies in Paris, and academic career at Uppsala and Gothenburg University. This book will help the reader gain insight into the man behind the stern scholar.