I am currently reading the wildly popular The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It is the first book in Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy. All three books are on the New York Times Best Sellers List in one format or another. Did you know the first book almost did not get published in the States? Hard to believe when there are 27 million copies in print according to London newspaper, The Independent.Born in 1954, Stieg was one-year-old when he was sent to live with his grandparents in Sweden. His grandfather, Severin Boström, was imprisoned in a work camp during WWII for his anti-fascist beliefs. Stieg listened to his grandfather’s stories and looked up to him as a role-model.
In Larsson’s biography, The Man Who Left too Soon author Barry Forshaw states, “The fate of his grandfather deeply affected and shaped Stieg's character. He wanted to protect equal rights and fight for democracy and freedom of speech in order to prevent history, and what happened to his grandfather, from repeating itself.”
At the age of twelve, he was back living with his parents and annoying them with his new typewriter. His loud pecking forced them to rent a basement room in their neighbor’s home for the lad. Stieg’s father said, “After that we never saw him. He would come up just to eat and talk politics.”
Eva Gabrielsson, his partner since the age of 18, claims he was never close to his parents. The couple met at an anti-Vietnam rally in 1972 and was inseparable until his untimely death in 2004. They both shared a love of writing and worked together on science fiction fanzines and finally on their own magazine titled Expo.
Through Expo, Stieg had the freedom to print his anti-racism and feminist beliefs. Death threats were numerous. The New York Times Magazine stated, “…the White Aryan Resistance published his photograph and address and suggested that as an ‘enemy of the white race’ he ought to be eliminated.”
Stieg’s sudden death left Eva without protection. The literary license fell to Stieg’s father and brother, but Eva has an ace up her sleeve. She owns the laptop containing book five and six of the planned 10 book Millennium series.
Quick funny before I go. Eva claims the elfin Lisbeth Salander character is based on a grown up Pippi Longstocking. Tough!
13 comments:
I read this last year and am looking forward to reading the next one. Just haven't bought it yet.
I did enjoy this book when I read it, once I passed all the financial stuff and overlooking the violence. I can see a bit of Pippi in Lisbeth but not a whole lot. Interesting...
Great Sharon! Hubby has read the whole series and he said he was bogged down by all the swedish names in the second one. Speaking of names, one article I read about Stieg said that he and Stig Larsson were friends before both became writers. They believed they would both make a name as photographers! On a coin toss, Stieg who at the time was also named Stig, lost a bet and added the "e" to his first name!
Stephanie - Me too! We went to see the foreign movie last month and I think that helped me skim over the libel case. Oh, and the movie is a little kinder - but not much - to Lisbeth's creepy custodian.
That is an interesting tid bit! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks. I think I want to read the biography now. It might help me understand the book, which was so confusing and intense.
Do you like the book? I hear about it all the time but there are many books one hears about and I don't always care for them. What is your opinion? I am tempted to buy it.
PS: Just finished "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" and it is sad, riveting, unbelievable and cathartic. I recommend it.
I read the middle book of the series and loved it. I am glad there are a few more manuscripts that the author wrote before he died. Thanks for giving his bio. It was informative and interesting.
No problem Sharon!
Thx for stopping by Josh.
Rick = He lived under a constant threat and it is the main reason he did not marry. In Sweden they require you give a home address which is made public and would have put them in danger.
I struggled through the begining with the finacial and court stuff, but the rest was a joy (although tough content) to read Callie Gal. I loved ILoHL!!! Thx for recommending it!!!
That is great to hear Violette! Hubby had trouble with the second because of all the different names! ;D
I really didn't get on with this book at all. On a slightly irrelevant note, I love the design of your blog. Such pretty flowers!
Well, I am sorry you didn't like it Literary Kitty, but thank you for the compliment! :D
Where to read The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo online: http://freebooksread.blogspot.com/2010/06/read-girl-with-dragon-tattoo-online.html
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