Stieg Larsson - Famous (Dead) Author
An Exploration of the Works from the Scandinavian Writer
Stieg Larsson (1954-2004), a Swedish native, was a journalist and wrote novels in his spare time. Prior to his sudden and untimely death in 2004 due to a sudden heart attack, he had completed three novels, which became a huge hit in Scandinavia shortly after his death.
The novels, being in the genre of detective and high-paced but realistic thrillers, occupy the shelves of many homes and have entertained readers of all ages, despite knowing little of Sweden or the many streets and towns described throughout all three novels. It is his methods and decisions in his writing that captures his audience and keeps them interested and entertained through pages and pages of intense crime, violence and personal survival.
It was simply for fun that he started writing detective novels, which he mainly wrote at night. The initial idea for the Millennium trilogy came from an old joke between him and a colleague, years before he started writing. He enjoyed writing so much when he started in 2001 that he did not make contact with a publisher until he had finished the first two installments of the trilogy and had the third installment well under way.
The Millennium Trilogy
The three novels that follow the exciting life of the Millennium journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, and his partner in crime, Lisbeth Salander, build on each other. The first novel, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Publisher: Modtryk, 2006. ISBN: 9781847243492), introduces Blomkvist as a journalist who takes the job of solving a cold case for billionaire Henrik Vanger. Harriet Vanger, Henrik’s niece, disappeared off a secluded island owned and inhabited by the powerful Vanger family and her unsolved murder has become the focus of the old Henrik. However, the lack of a corpse, witnesses and evidence makes this a difficult case for Blomkvist, who receives help from the very secluded and mysterious Salander. Together, they discover family secrets that neither are prepared to face head-on.
The second instalment, The Girl who played with Fire (Publisher: Modtryk, 2007. ISBN: 9788770530149), takes place several years after the murder mystery on the Vanger Island. It builds on Salander’s past, which reveals much about her past in a mental institution and how her abusive father has affected her relationship with the few individuals in her life and explains her inability to get emotionally close to people. Salander is forced to come face to face with her past and the people who tried to eliminate her, while facing murder charges, which she may or may not be guilty of.
The third and final installment has two working titles in English (neither have been confirmed), The Girl who kicked the Hornet’s Nest/Castles in the Sky (Publisher: Modtryk, 2008. ISBN: 9788770530927). The third novel is a continuation of the second, where Salander is now the most wanted person in Sweden due to murder charges placed upon her. The book is a powerful illustration of the will to fight for the truth and the will to survive. The constant twists and turns make the novels unpredictable, which makes the readers question the characters’ credibility and honesty.
The Years after Larsson’s Death
The novels became widely popular years after his death and have been in high demand in Norway and Denmark. The Millennium-series has even been recognized with awards by the Swedish Academy for Detective Novels. The trilogy has been sold to the UK in 2008 and Spain in 2009. Unfortunately for Larsson, he never lived to see the popular success his novels have become and how his novels will continue to occupy the many bookshelves around the world – both in the north as well as across international waters.
There has been much discussion about a fourth novel, which Larsson never completed. It was reportedly found on his laptop, but his family refuse to have it published due to its lack of completion. However, fans can enjoy the novels visually, as all three novels will be made into full-length movies. But be aware; as some write of the novels, “It’s like a drug. Once you start, you can’t stop”.
Stieg Larsson
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Reading & Literature
Latest Articles