Sweden, 1998 / 2000
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April 29, 2009
Book charts in 2008-2009
Stieg Larsson top European adult fiction
author
Diverse reading culture:
13 of the top 40 authors writing in English
Hennin g Mankell # 10
Liza Marklund # 12
Jan Guillou # 15
Jens Lapidus # 17
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Journalist
revolutionized the modern
Swedish police procedural
The Bomber, first installment
8 books so far
Crime reporter Annika Bengtzon,
Bestseller worldwide.
9 million novels sold in 30
languages
No 1 bestseller in all five Nordic
countries.
The recipient of a vast number
of literary awards and prizes.
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Sales Clerk
Warehouseworker
Cleaning Maid
Croupier
Factory Worker
Waitress
Cafeteria assistant
Circus worker
Phone salesperson (of vitamins)
Extra in movies
News Reporter:
Norrländska Socialdemokraten
Aftonbladet
Arbetaren
Expressen
Metro
News Editor
Editor-in_chief
TV-editor
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Studio 69 (1999) – takes place eight years before the
action of The Bomber
Paradise (2000) – a direct continuation of Studio 69
Prime time (2002) – the action occurs between
Paradise and The Bomber
The Bomber (1998)
Den röda vargen (2003) – an independent story which
picks up from the end of The Bomber
Nobels testamente (2006) – takes place some months
after The Red Wolf
Livstid (2007) – a direct sequel to "Nobels testamente"
En plats i solen (2008) - a direct sequel to Livstid
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How do you write a book?
How many books have you sold?
How much money have you made?
Why did you start writing crime fiction?
Are you and Annika Bengtzon one and the
same?
Why did you begin with the fourth book,
chronologically speaking?
What is the secret behind your success?
Is it cool to be famous?
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Journalist
Married with 3 children
Written since she was a girl
Tenacity, firmness, self-criticism
Life and death, order in a chaotic world
6 foot tall, Pippi Longstocking
Recognizable people
Many details and actual events
Many female details
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Her big break-through
Wife Abuse / Domestic Violence
Created public debate – and political debate
A woman who was beaten and abused to
hide, and finally had to leave the country
Marklund presented it as “a true story”
Criticized for this –
Should have been “based on a true story”
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Before her detective fiction
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Variety of themes centered on women and
their roles in contemporary Swedish society
Types of women and men
Gender roles
Social conditions in Sweden
The structure of the newsroom
Journalists and Police
Trust and betrayal
Intellectual style
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Sweden
Stock= fortification / holm = islet
Population: 847,073 (2010)
Population of New York City: 8,391,881
(2010)
First mention was from Norse Saga as
Agnafit
Sweden ranked 10 in Global Peace Index
“Evil appears in many shapes here on
earth…It would be foolish to think we’re
exempt from it here in Sweden just because
we haven’t had a war since 1809”
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Intended for the 2004 Olympic Games
Designed to resemble a Greek
Amphitheater
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Book collaboration between Liza Marklund
and James Patterson – The Postcard Killers,
2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Db7dw9
0RNg
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Powerful figure
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“I didn’t mean to fly off the handle at you. It’s just that
they’re at me all day at work, and it’s really hard. And then
I feel guilty for not being at home with you and the kids.
I’m so scared you’ll think I’m letting you down, but the
paper won’t allow me to let them down, and so I’m caught
in the middle of some crossfire…” –Annika talking to her
husband, Thomas
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Woman gets a call on her cell phone to meet someone at
Victoria Stadium. She is murdered there.
Annika Bengtzon, gets call from editor at newspaper
(Kvällspressen) about the bombing at Victoria Stadium
The bomber is someone in the Olympic organization- all
alarms at the stadium were disarmed (confirmed by contact)
Annika and colleagues look up people with the Olympic
organization to interview. Main name is Christina Furhage
Furhage is the deceased person; a shock: she is Managing
Director of Stockholm Organizing Committee of the Olympic
Games
Annika interviews Christina’s husband, Bertil Milander. He
seems upset and confused. Her daughter Lena says she’s
glad that her mother is dead.
Annika visits Helena Starke, last person to see Christina alive.
She says they left Christmas party together and then went
their separate ways
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Terrorists vs. individual motive
Annika found picture of Christina’s husband and
family
Has a meeting with Evert Danielsson: many people
wanted Christina dead
Annika speaks with Helena Starke – who lies about
son
Talks with contact – paper ruined her relationship by
mentioning codes
Helena and Christina - affair
The Bomber strikes again - Sätra Hall
Berit intercepts police channel: victim builder Stefan
Bjurling
Interview in Sätra Hall:Beata Ekesjö
Press Release on Explosives
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Annika continues investigation regarding The Bomber
• Meetings with Evert Danielsson, others
Annika’s troubles managing work and family-life persist
Annika meets Olof Furhage, Christina’s secret son
The Bomber strikes again: letter bomb at Stockholm sorting office –
addressed to Annika
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Beata Ekesjo calls Annika, claims she knows identity of The Bomber, wants
to meet
Annika meets Beata at Olympic Arena
Meanwhile, police contacts Anders Schyman (Editor In Chief): Annika needs
protection
Beata leads Annika into stadium’s tunnel system, suddenly attacks and ties
her up
Beata reveals herself to Annika as The Bomber – explains her attacks, makes
demands to be heard
Annika cleverly delays Beata, notifies police via cell phone
Police save Annika, shoot Beata
Beata sentenced to indefinite confinement in mental institution, wears
brooch
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The Bomber and crime literature thus far
 Crime
 Investigation
▪ Cunning vs. Resourcefulness (Influence of technology)
▪ Observation vs. Interrogation
▪ Solving vs. Reporting (Journalistic Integrity)
 Resolution
▪ Epiphany vs. Gradual unraveling
▪ Protagonist (Annika) did not even “solve” crime
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Clarify the Swedish social system as background for the novel.
What makes this book Scandinavian?
Compare the role of Annika to other female roles in the past
novels. Discuss the gender roles in the book.
Discuss Annika’s balance between home and work life? What
were her options?
Is this novel a hard or soft boiled crime story? Why?
“Patrik, you’re a man and you aren’t affected by the
oppression of women. Of course, it’s more difficult for a
woman than for a man to hold down a position like hers, just as
it would be more difficult for someone who was deaf and
dumb than for someone with his faculties intact. Being a
woman is tantamount to being a walking handicap.” (Annika,
p. 90) Do you agree with what she is saying here? Why or why
not?
Discuss the structure of the newsroom- what does it resemble?
Discuss the concept of trust among people.
Discuss the Bomber – what made Beata a criminal?
What would happen if a bombing like this occurred before
hypothetical Olympic Games in the United States?