Subject
Swedish fiction -- Translations into English Books
Best books
Selma Lagerlöf
The Story of Gösta Berling
"The Story of Gösta Berling" by Selma Lagerlöf is a novel published in 1891. Set in 1820s Sweden along the shores of Lake Fryken, this debut work follows a defrocked Lutheran priest rescued from freezing by a mysterious mistress. He becomes part of a band of eccentric pensioners living at Ekeby manor, where wild adventures unfold as they take control of the estate. Blending folk tales, supernatural elements, and magic realism, this story explores redemption through the charismatic poet-priest who leads his companions through chaos toward salvation.
Sigfrid Siwertz
Downstream
"Downstream" by Sigfrid Siwertz is a novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative explores the complexities of childhood and family life against the backdrop of a decaying estate called Selambshof. Central to the story are the children Peter and Hedvig, who navigate their fears and the challenges posed by their family's unresolved past. The opening of the novel introduces us to the children’s dimly lit world, fraught with fears and misunderstandings. As Peter and Hedvig experience a harrowing evening filled with a mysterious cry from their mother's bedroom, it sets the tone for the underlying emotional struggle and haunting memories that shape their lives. The presence of an old storyteller, Kristin, weaves together ghostly tales from their family's history, which further entangles the children in a web of fear and superstition. As the narrative unfolds, the impact of their mother's illness and the looming shadows of family legacy begin to emerge, hinting at deeper themes of loss and survival within the children's lives.
Per Hallström
Modern Swedish Masterpieces: Short Stories
"Modern Swedish Masterpieces: Short Stories" by Per Hallström et al. is a collection of short stories written in the early 20th century. This anthology showcases the talents of prominent Swedish writers, offering readers a glimpse into contemporary Swedish literature and its unique themes and styles. The collection includes stories that delve into the complexities of human emotions and societal interactions, featuring a diverse range of characters and poignant narratives. The opening of the anthology introduces the reader to the intentions behind its compilation. The translator acknowledges the rising interest in Scandinavian literature, particularly the Swedish short story, while noting the lack of representative collections in English. Four authors—Hjalmar Söderberg, Sigfrid Siwertz, Verner von Heidenstam, and Per Hallström—are highlighted, each bringing their distinctive voice to the collection. The initial tales presented vary from somber reflections on love and societal norms to explorations of the human condition, establishing an engaging and thought-provoking tone for the stories that follow.
Selma Lagerlöf
The Treasure
"The Treasure" by Selma Lagerlöf is a historical novel likely written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around Torarin, a poor fish hawker in Bohuslän, who embarks on a journey to seek livelihood and encounters themes of love, mourning, and revenge, particularly concerning the tragic fate of a local parsonage and its residents. At the start of the novel, Torarin, who is physically infirm, sets out on his usual route to sell fish when he hears of the sea being frozen, allowing for easier travel. As he makes his way to Solberga Parsonage, he chats with his loyal dog, Grim, reflecting on local news and the warmth of home. Upon arrival, he witnesses a gathering of the parson's household, where an air of tension prevails. The old mistress expresses foreboding about strange occurrences, and soon, Torarin learns of a recent tragedy that has befallen the parsonage—Herr Arne and his family have been brutally murdered, which sets in motion a series of events involving revenge and the search for solace. The beginning establishes a rich atmosphere filled with superstition, foreshadowing, and the ramifications of a violent past that will echo throughout the tale.
Selma Lagerlöf
The Emperor of Portugallia
"The Emperor of Portugallia" by Selma Lagerlöf is a novel published in 1914. Set in rural Värmland, it tells the story of Jan, a tenant farmer whose love for his daughter Glory Goldie transforms into obsession after she moves to Stockholm and stops writing. When letters cease, Jan retreats into fantasy, imagining himself as a great Emperor and his daughter as an empress. In his delusions, he challenges social hierarchies while awaiting her return, unaware of her true circumstances in the city.
Julius Regis
No. 13 Toroni : $b A mystery
"No. 13 Toroni: A Mystery" by Julius Regis is a mystery novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Victor Dreyel, a reclusive photographer, and Thomas Murner, a young architect, as they find themselves entangled in a web of intrigue following the death of Dreyel. After receiving a mysterious telegram that hints at danger, the men become embroiled in a case involving a girl in grey, a wooden doll, and dark secrets from the past. The opening of the novel introduces Victor Dreyel, who is apprehensive as he awaits a visitor named Maurice Wallion, noted for solving problems. Dreyel receives a cryptic telegram that implies he is in peril. The tension escalates when a scream is heard, and Murner rushes upstairs only to discover Dreyel has been murdered. The scene darkens as Murner encounters the girl in grey, who is implicated in Dreyel's death, triggering a chain of events that pulls him deeper into a mystery linked to Dreyel’s secrets and a figure named Toroni. The initial atmosphere of suspense sets the stage for an intricate plot filled with danger and the quest for truth.
Selma Lagerlöf
The outcast
"The Outcast" by Selma Lagerlöf is a novel written in the early 20th century. Set on the island of Grimön off the western coast of Sweden, the story revolves around the strained relationship of a couple, Joel and Mor Elversson, who are grappling with their past decisions and the fate of their son, Sven. The narrative explores themes of abandonment, societal judgment, and the complexities of familial love, particularly focusing on Sven, who has returned home under fraught circumstances. The opening of the story introduces Joel and Mor Elversson, whose contrasting personalities are highlighted during a seemingly mundane conversation about mundane matters. As they discuss their son, Sven, who they gave away to a wealthy couple years ago, the reader senses the tension and regret underlying their dialogue. Mor is particularly troubled by the choices they made, especially after learning of Sven's troubled return from abroad following a disastrous Arctic expedition. The couple's exchange hints at the emotional turmoil each feels regarding societal rejection and the haunting memories of their son, setting a somber tone for the unfolding of Sven's troubled past and his longing for acceptance.
August Strindberg
The German Lieutenant, and Other Stories
"The German Lieutenant and Other Stories" by August Strindberg is a collection of short stories written in the late 19th century. The opening story, titled "The German Lieutenant," focuses on Lieut. Von Bleichroden, a Prussian officer during the Franco-Prussian War, who wrestles with the moral complexities of warfare and the toll it takes on his conscience. The collection delves into themes of duty, individual morality versus societal expectations, and the psychological impact of war. At the start of the first story, readers are introduced to Von Bleichroden, who is stationed in a quaint café in France shortly after the Battle of Sedan. As he writes a letter to his wife expressing his homesickness and anxieties about impending warfare, his internal conflict becomes clear. He contemplates the brutal realities of guerra, including the execution of three captured French "franc-tireurs." The tension builds as he interacts with the local curé, who implores him to show mercy, forcing the lieutenant to confront the duality of his role as a soldier and a man struggling with the weight of his decisions. This opening sets the tone for the exploration of the psyche amidst the chaos of war throughout the collection.
August Strindberg
Fair Haven and Foul Strand
"Fair Haven and Foul Strand" by August Strindberg is a fictional work likely written during the late 19th century. The story opens with a detailed portrayal of a quarantine doctor, whose challenging personality and difficult childhood reveal much about his character and life choices. This intricate exploration of his past hints at broader themes of isolation, interpersonal conflict, and the quest for meaning in professional and personal relationships. At the start of the narrative, the quarantine doctor is introduced as a man who has endured a troubled upbringing, marked by a lack of affection from his stern parents. This background has cultivated a mistrustful disposition, making it hard for him to form genuine friendships. His current situation, after spending seventeen years on a remote island, is fraught with quarrels—first with the local pilots, who challenge his authority, and later with his housekeeper, Kristin. The dynamics of his relationships illustrate his struggle for autonomy and understanding amidst the tensions of his everyday life, encapsulating a deeper commentary on human connections and societal expectations.
Julius Regis
The Copper House : $b A detective story
"The Copper House" by Julius Regis is a detective novel written in the early 20th century. Set in neutral Stockholm during the First World War, it pits journalist-sleuth Maurice Wallion and the returning heir Leonard Grath against a clandestine power webbed around the seaside estate known as the Copper House. A coveted political dossier—the Tarraschin memorandum—draws spies, financiers, and hired guns into conflict, with the enigmatic magnate Gabriel Ortiz lurking behind the scenes. Expect tense espionage, sharp psychological duels, and the guarded allure of Sonia Bernin, whose family’s tenancy masks dangerous loyalties. The opening of the story frames Stockholm as a whirlpool of covert forces before cutting to a hotel where Baron Fayerling’s attempt to seize the memorandum from courier Bernard Jenin is coolly foiled by Wallion. In parallel, Leonard Grath learns from his lawyer that mounting debts will force the sale of his ancestral estate to Andrei Bernin, fronted by the pushy Marcus Tassler; he receives a warning letter from Wallion, has his pocketbook stolen and mysteriously returned, and impulsively heads to the Copper House. Wallion recruits a frightened spy, B.22, who hints at a vast scheme led by Ortiz—once a flamboyant “Emperor of the Amazons,” now a war-profiteering mastermind—before bolting in panic. At the estate, Leo is refused entry at gunpoint, slips in through the woods, rescues Sonia Bernin from rough “guards,” and is briskly received by her formidable aunt, Lona Ivanovna. A frantic chase erupts when a pale stranger (likely Jenin) arrives, is pursued by the brutal Rastakov, and vanishes inside; Lona fires a shot, Rastakov ransacks the house, and threatens worse in the name of his unseen “Chief.” The sequence ends with the house fallen eerily silent and Leo, now entangled and shut out of the truth, retreating in shock to his old room.
Selma Lagerlöf
Jerusalem
"Jerusalem" by Selma Lagerlöf is a novel published in two parts in 1901 and 1902. The narrative follows several families across generations in 19th-century Dalarna, Sweden, and traces their journey to a Swedish emigrant community in Jerusalem. Loosely based on an actual emigration from Nås parish in 1896, the story explores themes of faith, tradition, and displacement as characters navigate between their Swedish homeland and the Holy Land.
Emilie Flygare-Carlén
The Home in the Valley
"The Home in the Valley" by Emilie Flygare-Carlén is a novel written in the mid-19th century. The story unfolds around Nanna, a modest and beautiful maiden living in a picturesque valley near Lake Wenner, whose life is marked by poverty and the challenges of social class distinctions. As her circumstances intertwine with those of the wealthy in the nearby estate of Almvik, the narrative explores themes of love, aspiration, and the stark contrasts between wealth and poverty. The opening of "The Home in the Valley" paints a vivid picture of idyllic rural life, introducing us to the main character, Nanna, who reflects on her status as a "child of poverty." Growing up under the care of her father and sister-in-law, Magde, Nanna grapples with feelings of melancholy and alienation from the wealthy community nearby. She is characterized as someone with a yearning for connection, and her encounter with a stranger marks a turning point that brings new dynamics into her life. Throughout the early chapters, the interactions between Nanna, her family, and the contrasting lifestyles of the Almvik residents establish a rich backdrop for the unfolding drama of class struggles, personal ambitions, and emotional complexities.
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