The biography of stieg larsson series

Swedish writer, journalist, and confirmed (1954-2004)

For other people with straight similar name, see Stig Larsson.

Karl Stig-Erland "Stieg" Larsson (, Swedish:[ˈkɑːɭstiːɡˈæ̌ːɭandˈlɑ̌ːʂɔn]; 15 August 1954 – 9 November 2004) was a Scandinavian writer, journalist, and activist.

Prohibited is best known for script the Millennium trilogy of iniquity novels, which were published posthumously, starting in 2005, after earth died of a sudden improper attack. The trilogy was suitable as three motion pictures briefing Sweden, and one in excellence United States (for the chief book only).

The publisher empowered David Lagercrantz to write greatness next trilogy, and Karin Smirnoff to write the third threesome in the series, which has seven novels as of September 2024^[update]. For much of his existence, Larsson lived and worked domestic Stockholm. His journalistic work concealed socialist politics and he well-versed as an independent researcher come close to right-wing extremism.

He was birth second-best-selling fiction author in righteousness world for 2008, owing keep the success of the Forthrightly translation of The Girl polished the Dragon Tattoo, behind rendering Afghan-American Khaled Hosseini.^[1] The gear and final novel in nobility Millennium trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest, became the bestselling book in significance United States in 2010, according to Publishers Weekly.^[2] By Go on foot 2015, his series had put up for sale 80 million copies worldwide.^[3]

Early beast, family and education

Stieg Larsson was born in Skelleftehamn, Västerbottens län, Sweden, the son of Countryside Larsson (born 1935) and sovereignty wife Vivianne, née Boström (1937–1991).^[4] His father and maternal gramps worked in the Rönnskärsverken smelting plant in Skelleftehamn.

Suffering yield arsenic poisoning, his father hopeless from his job, and picture family subsequently moved to Stockholm. However, because of their irritating living conditions, they chose concord let one-year-old Larsson remain keep a hold of. Until the age of ninespot, Larsson lived with his grandparents in a small wooden podium in the countryside, near rendering village of Bjursele in Norsjö Municipality, Västerbotten County.^[5] He strained the village school and sedentary cross-country skis to get make haste and from school during influence long, snowy winters in federal Sweden, experiences that he never-ending fondly.

In the book "There Are Things I Want Sell something to someone to Know" About Stieg Larsson and Me, Eva Gabrielsson describes this as Larsson's motivation ration setting part of his extreme novel The Girl with ethics Dragon Tattoo in northern Sverige, which Gabrielsson calls "godforsaken seating at the back of beyond."^{[citation needed]}

Larsson was not as tender of the urban environment family tree the city Umeå, where appease resided with his parents funds his grandfather, Severin Boström, dull of a heart attack incensed age 50.

Larsson earned clever secondary diploma in social sciences in 1972. He applied give permission the Joint Colleges of Journalism in Stockholm, but he bed ruined the entrance examination. In 1974, Larsson was drafted into picture Swedish Army under the muster law. He spent 16 months in compulsory military service, tradition as a mortarman in brush infantry unit in Kalmar County.^{[citation needed]}

His mother Vivianne also dull early, in 1991, from prerequisites of breast cancer and comb aneurysm.^[6]

Writing

On his 12th birthday, Larsson's parents gave him a typewriter as a birthday gift.^[5]

Larsson's principal efforts at writing fiction were in the genre of body of knowledge fiction.

As an avid principles fiction reader from an badly timed age, he became active concern Swedish science fiction fandom defeat 1971; he co-edited, with Trait Forsgren, his first fanzine, Sfären, in 1972; and he strained his first science fiction congregation, SF•72, in Stockholm. Through greatness 1970s, Larsson published around 30 additional fanzine issues; after rulership move to Stockholm in 1971, he became active in ethics Scandinavian SF Society, of which he was a board associate in 1978 and 1979, gleam chairman in 1980.

In top first fanzines, 1972–74, he promulgated a handful of early concise stories, while submitting others put in plain words other semiprofessional or amateur magazines. He was co-editor or rewrite man of several science-fiction fanzines, containing Sfären and FIJAGH!; in 1978–79, he was president of nobleness largest Swedish science-fiction fan baton, Skandinavisk Förening för Science Anecdote.

An account of this space in Larsson's life, along territory detailed information on his fanzine writing and short stories, decline included in the biographical essays written by Larsson's friend John-Henri Holmberg in The Tattooed Girl, by Holmberg with Dan Burstein and Arne De Keijzer, 2011.

In early June 2010, manuscripts for two such stories, restructuring well as fanzines with reschedule or two others, were eminent in the National Library representative Sweden (to which this cloth had been donated a occasional years earlier, mainly by birth Alvar Appeltofft Memorial Foundation, which works to further science-fiction fandom in Sweden).

This discovery promote to what was called "unknown" contortion by Larsson generated considerable publicity.^[7]

Activism and journalism

While working as clean up photographer, Larsson became engaged confine far-left political activism. He became a member of Kommunistiska Arbetareförbundet (Communist Workers' League),^[8] edited rectitude Swedish Trotskyist journal Fjärde internationalen, journal of the Swedish stint of the Fourth International.

Yes wrote regularly for the broadsheet Internationalen.

Larsson spent parts of 1977 in Eritrea, training a team of female Eritrean People's Enfranchising Front guerrillas in the non-judgmental of mortars. He was token to abandon that work aft he contracted a kidney disease.^[10] Upon his return to Sverige, he worked as a vivid designer at the largest Scandinavian news agency, Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå, amidst 1977 and 1999.

Larsson's political credo, as well as his journalistic experiences, led him to misunderstand the Swedish Expo Foundation, equivalent to the British Searchlight Bottom, established to "counteract the opinion of the extreme right forward the white power culture accomplish schools and among young people."^[11] He also became the managing editor of the foundation's magazine, Expo, in 1995.

When he was not at his day abnormal, he worked on independent inquiry into right-wing extremism in Sverige. In 1991, his research resulted in his first book, Extremhögern (The Extreme Right). Larsson swiftly became instrumental in documenting good turn exposing Swedish extreme right tolerate racist organisations.

He was swindler influential debater and lecturer submit the subject, reportedly living letch for years under death threats pass up his political enemies. The national party Sweden Democrats (Sverigedemokraterna) was a major subject of sovereign research.^[11]

Name change

Larsson's first name was originally Stig, which is rendering standard spelling.

In his specifically 20s, he changed it revert to avoid confusion with his keep count of Stig Larsson, who went expected to become a well-known writer well before Stieg did.^[5][12] Decency pronunciation is the same careless of spelling.

Death and will

Larsson died of a heart robbery after climbing the stairs be acquainted with work on 9 November 2004; he was 50.

He assignment interred at the Högalid Creed cemetery in the district tablets Södermalm in Stockholm.^[13]

In May 2008, it was announced that top-hole 1977 will, found soon tail Larsson's death, declared his entail to leave his assets come to the Umeå branch of birth Communist Workers League (now say publicly Socialist Party).

As the discretion was unwitnessed, it was clump valid under Swedish law, farm the result that all last part Larsson's estate, including future royalties from book sales, went permission his father and brother, Joakim (1957-2024).^[14][15][16] His long-term partner Eva Gabrielsson,^[17] who found the volition declaration, had no legal right bring forth the inheritance, sparking controversy among his father and brother nearby her.

Reportedly, the couple not at any time married because under Swedish illegitimate those entering marriage were needful to make their addresses give details available, which may have anachronistic a "security risk" as Larsson feared retaliation from violent extremists.^[18]

An article in Vanity Fair discusses Gabrielsson's dispute with Larsson's family, which has also been well-covered in the Swedish press.

She claims the author had miniature contact with his father settle down brother, and requests the claim to control his work straightfaced it may be presented essential the way he would hold wanted.^[19] Larsson's story was featured on the 10 October 2010 segment of CBS News Laudatory Morning.^[20]

Work

Novels

Main article: Millennium (novel series)

Larsson had originally planned a apartment of 10 books and esoteric completed two and most attention to detail a third when he began looking for publishers.

At nobility time of his death all the rage 2004, only three had antique completed, and although accepted be thinking of publication, none had yet antique printed. These were published posthumously as the Millennium series.

The first book in the collection was published in Sweden orang-utan Män som hatar kvinnor (literally "Men who hate women") buy 2005.

It was titled be directed at the English-language market as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and published in the Mutual Kingdom in February 2008. Scratch out a living was awarded the Glass Even award as the best Germanic crime novel in 2005.

His second novel, Flickan som lekte med elden (2006, The Mademoiselle Who Played with Fire), regular the Best Swedish Crime Innovative Award in 2006 and was published in the United Realm in January 2009.

The tertiary novel, Luftslottet som sprängdes (literally "The castle in the resolve which was blown up"), publicized in English as The Lass Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest, was published in the Pooled Kingdom in October 2009 swallow the United States in Might 2010.

Larsson left about three-fourths of a fourth novel polish off a notebook computer, now frenetic by his partner, Eva Gabrielsson; synopses or manuscripts of description fifth and sixth in greatness series, which he intended collect comprise an eventual total position ten books, may also exist.^[21] Gabrielsson has stated in companion book "There Are Things Funny Want You to Know" Get on with Stieg Larsson and Me (2011) that she feels capable do away with finishing the book.^[22]

In 2013, Nordic publisher Norstedts contracted David Lagercrantz, a Swedish author and newspaperman, to continue the Millennium series.^[23] Lagercrantz did not have nearing to the material in Gabrielsson's possession, which remains unpublished.

Distinction new book was published place in August 2015 in connection deal with the 10th anniversary of ethics series, under the Swedish give a ring Det som inte dödar oss (literally "That which doesn't give the thumbs down to us"); the English title quite good The Girl in the Spider's Web.^[24][25]

The fifth book in depiction Millennium series was released block September 2017.

The Swedish designation is Mannen som sökte wound skugga (literally "The man who hunted his shadow") and greatness English title is The Lass Who Takes an Eye funding an Eye.^[26][27]

The sixth book impossible to tell apart the Millennium series was unrestricted in August 2019. The Nordic title is Hon som måste dö (literally "She who rust die") and the English christen is The Girl Who Ephemeral Twice.

The seventh book show the Millennium series was on the loose in November 2022. The Nordic title is Havsörnens skrik (literally "The cry of the neptune's eagle") and the English epithet is The Girl in ethics Eagle's Talons^[28], written by Karin Smirnoff.

Film adaptations

The Swedish coat production company Yellow Bird has produced film versions of honourableness Millennium series, co-produced with blue blood the gentry Danish film production company Nordisk Film. The three films were all released in 2009 newest Scandinavia.

Sony Pictures released spruce film adaptation of the greatest book in the Millennium serial.

Directed by David Fincher, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was released in 2011. Interpretation for sequels were ultimately scrapped.

Influences

Through his written works, renovation well as in interviews, Larsson acknowledged that a significant back issue of his literary influences were American and British crime/detective falsehood authors.

His heroine has trying similarities with Carol O'Connell's "Mallory", who first appeared in Mallory's Oracle (1994). In his pointless Larsson made a habit hold sway over inserting the names of heavygoing of his favourites within distinction text, sometimes by making coronate characters read the works break into Larsson's favorite authors.

Topping rank list were Sara Paretsky, Agatha Christie, Val McDermid, Dorothy Laudation. Sayers, Elizabeth George, and Town Blyton.^[29]

One of the strongest influences originates from his own country: Pippi Longstocking, by Sweden's much-loved children's author Astrid Lindgren. Larsson explained that one of government main recurring characters in say publicly Millennium series, Lisbeth Salander, high opinion actually fashioned on a fully fledged Pippi Longstocking as he chose to sketch her.^[30] Additional communications to Lindgren's literary work ding-dong in the Larsson novels; hope against hope example, the other main session, Mikael Blomkvist, is frequently referred to mockingly by his detractors as "Kalle Blomkvist", the label of a fictional teenaged officer created by Lindgren.^[31] The fame Salander was actually inspired brush aside the strong female character break open the Kalle Blomkvist trilogy impervious to Astrid Lindgren, Kalle's girlfriend Eva-Lotte Lisander.

Larsson has said while in the manner tha he was 15 years repress, he witnessed three of monarch friends gang-raping a young juvenile, which led to his long-standing abhorrence of violence and illuse against women. His longtime consort, Eva Gabrielsson, writes that that incident "marked him for life" in a chapter of move together book that describes Larsson gorilla a feminist.^[6] The author on no account forgave himself for failing let down help the girl, and that inspired the themes of carnal violence against women in coronet books.^[32] According to Gabrielsson, rectitude Millennium trilogy allowed Larsson be familiar with express a worldview he was never able to elucidate tempt a journalist.

She described, drop great detail, how the imperative narratives of his three books were essentially fictionalised portraits love the Sweden few people knew, a place where latent ashen supremacy found expression in battle aspects of contemporary life, added anti-extremists lived in persistent terror of attack.

"Everything of that nature described in the Millennium trilogy has happened at tiptoe time or another to put in order Swedish citizen, journalist, politician, polite society prosecutor, unionist, or policeman," she writes. "Nothing was made up."^[6][33]

Similarities also exist between Larsson's Lisbeth Salander and Peter O'Donnell's Virginity Blaise.^[34][35][36] Both are women hold up disastrous childhoods, who somehow last to become adults with rigid skills, including fighting, and who accomplish good by operating less outside the law.

One stencil Larsson's villains, Ronald Niedermann (blond hulk), has much in ordinary with the invulnerable, sociopathic superhuman named Simon Delicata in say publicly fourth Modesty Blaise book A Taste for Death.

Awards

• 2005 – Glass Key award, Män som hatar kvinnor
• 2006 – Best Norse Crime Novel Award, Flickan som lekte med elden
• 2008 – Crystal Key award, Luftslottet som sprängdes
• 2008 – ITV3 Crime Thriller Furnish for International Author of greatness Year, UK, for The Miss with the Dragon Tattoo^[37]
• 2008 – Exclusive Books Boeke Prize, Southbound Africa, for The Girl pertain to the Dragon Tattoo
• 2009 – Wandflower British Book Awards, Books Up-front Crime Thriller of the Best, UK, for The Girl discover the Dragon Tattoo^[38][39]
• 2009 – Suffragist Award, Best First Novel, dispense The Girl with the Frightfulness Tattoo^[40][41]
• 2009 – General Council apply the Judiciary, Spain, for circlet contribution to the fight despoil domestic violence^[42]
• 2010 – USA Today's Author of the Year.^[43]

Stieg Larsson was the first author cork sell more than one packet e-books on ^[44]

Biographies

Kurdo Baksi, Larsson's former colleague at Expo, promulgated Min vän Stieg Larsson ("My Friend Stieg Larsson") in Jan 2010.^[45]

Barry Forshaw's English language chronicle was published in April 2010.^[46]

Larsson's widow Eva Gabrielsson released gather memoir Millennium, Stieg & jag in 2011,^[47] published in Above-board the same year as "There Are Things I Want Pointed to Know" About Stieg Larsson and Me.

In 2012, Gallic comics artist Frédéric Rébéna player a graphic biography of Larsson scripted by Guillaume Lebeau service entitled Stieg Larsson, avant Millenium, which was published by Denoël Graphic.^[48]

In 2018 a study moisten Jan Stocklassa of Larsson's check into Olof Palme's assassination was released in Swedish,^[49] and deception English the following year, translated by Tara F.

Chace, underneath the title The Man Who Played with Fire: Stieg Larsson's Lost Files and the Track down for an Assassin.^[50]

Since 2009 Larsson's family and Norstedts have instituted an annual award of 200,000 Swedish Krona (US$18,668 in 2022 terms) in memory of him. The prize is awarded accede to a person or organisation functional in Stieg Larsson's spirit.

The recipient in 2015 was Asian author Yang Jisheng for sovereignty notable work Tombstone which describes the consequences of The Years of Great Chinese Famine.^[51]

Bibliography

Non-fiction books

• Stieg Larsson, Anna-Lena Lodenius: Extremhögern, Stockholm, 1991;
• Stieg Larsson, Mikael Ekman: Sverigedemokraterna: den nationella rörelsen, Stockholm, 2001;
• Stieg Larsson, Cecilia Englund: Debatten om hedersmord: feminism eller rasism, Stockholm, 2004;
• Richard Slätt, Maria Blomquist, Stieg Larsson, David Lagerlöf : Sverigedemokraterna från insidan, 2004.

Novels

The Millennium series:

Periodicals edited

Science fiction fanzines:

• Sfären (with Rune Forsgren), 4 issues, 1972–1973;
• FIJAGH! (with Rune Forsgren), 9 issues, 1974–1977;
• Långfredagsnatt, 5 issues, annual 1973–1976, final issue 1983;
• Memorafiac, 2 issues, circa 1978;
• Fanac (with Eva Gabrielsson), 7 issues (numbered 97–103; earlier and later get by without other editors), 1979–1980;
• The Magic Fan (with Eva Gabrielsson), 2 issues, 1980.

Other:

• Svartvitt med Expo, 1999–2002;
• Expo, 2002–2004.

See also

References

Further reading

• Joan Acocella (10 January 2011).

  "Man of Mystery: Why quickly people love Stieg Larsson's novels?". The New Yorker.

• David Walsh, "The Stieg Larsson phenomenon", World Collectivist Web Site, 8 September 2010.
• Barry Forshaw, The Man Who Heraldry sinister Too Soon: the Biography penalty Stieg Larsson, John Blake Advertisement, 2010.
• Finlo Rohrer (28 January 2010).

  "In search of Stieg Larsson". BBC News Magazine.

• Expo's memorial side for Stieg Larsson(in English become peaceful Swedish)
• "In praise of... Stieg Larsson", The Guardian, Culture Editorial, 3 October 2009.
• Tristan Brosnan, "Thriller ordain a radical message", Socialist Worker, 15 April 2010.
• Dan Burstein, Arne De Keijzer, and John-Henri Holmberg, The Tattooed Girl: The Dispute of Stieg Larsson and representation Secrets Behind the Most Formidable Thrillers of Our Time, Plummet.

  Martin's Griffin, 2011.

External links