Maj Sjöwall (1935–2020)
Teoksen Roseanna tekijä
About the Author
Writer and journalist Maj Sjöwall was born in Sweden in 1935. She was a reporter and art director at several newspapers and magazines. From 1959 to 1961, she was an editor with the publishing house Wahlström and Widstrad. She met Per Wahlöö in 1961 and they married the following year. Together näytä lisää they wrote all ten novels in the Martin Beck Police Mystery series from 1965 to 1975. In 1971, The Laughing Policeman (a translation of Den Skrattande Polisen) won an Edgar Award for Best Novel. (Bowker Author Biography) näytä vähemmän
Disambiguation Notice:
(eng) Do not combine this page with any of the pages that contain both Sjöwall and Wahlöö, or with Per Wahlöö's individual author page. (See "Who Should/Shouldn't Get Combined" on the Author wiki page.) Thank you.
Sarjat
Tekijän teokset
Ultimi casi per Martin Beck: L'uomo sul tetto-La camera chiusa-Un assassino di troppo-Terroristi (2012) 2 kappaletta
Martin Beck indaga a Stoccolma: Il poliziotto che ride - L'autopompa fantasma - Omicidio al Savoy (2010) 2 kappaletta
Gyilkos a háztetőn 1 kappale
Priskutnež 1 kappale
Roseanna (Rivages/Noir t. 687) 1 kappale
Suljettu huone 1 kappale
Cop killer: Translated from the Swedish 1 kappale
The Martin Beck Series: Books 1–4 1 kappale
Der Mann auf dem Balkon : Kriminalroman 1 kappale
Associated Works
Het Beste Boek 150: Narcose / Ben / De vrouw die op Greta Garbo leek / Gorilla's in de mist (1991) — Tekijä — 2 kappaletta
Merkitty avainsanalla
Yleistieto
- Kanoninen nimi
- Sjöwall, Maj
- Syntymäaika
- 1935-09-25
- Kuolinaika
- 2020-04-29
- Sukupuoli
- female
- Kansalaisuus
- Zweden
- Syntymäpaikka
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Kuolinpaikka
- Landskrona, Sweden
- Kuolinsyy
- COPD
- Asuinpaikat
- Ven, Sweden
- Ammatit
- editor (Wahlström and Widstrand)
Writer
translator
journalist
crime novelist
art director - Suhteet
- Wahlöö, Per (partner)
Wahlöö, Claes (zwager) - Palkinnot ja kunnianosoitukset
- Rivertonklubbens internasjonale ærespris (2006)
- Agentti
- Salomonsson Agency
- Lyhyt elämäkerta
- Maj Sjöwall grew up in one of the chain of hotels in Stockholm managed by her father. She was a 27-year-old journalist and art director, and a single mother with a small daughter, when she met Per Wahlöö, a prominent political journalist and former crime reporter nearly a decade her senior. They fell in love, moved in together, had two children, and talked about literature – including the possibility of writing books together. The result of their research and writing collaboration was Roseanna (1965), a detective novel featuring Martin Beck. It was the first in a series of ten novels produced over ten years. In 1971, The Laughing Policeman won an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America and was adapted into a Hollywood film. Sjöwall and Wahlöö also wrote novels separately. Although they never married, their relationship lasted until his death in 1975.
- Erotteluhuomautus
- Do not combine this page with any of the pages that contain both Sjöwall and Wahlöö, or with Per Wahlöö's individual author page. (See "Who Should/Shouldn't Get Combined" on the Author wiki page.) Thank you.
Jäseniä
Kirja-arvosteluja
The crime itself isn't particularly mysterious and the ending sort of whiffs out a bit. But it keeps your interest enough and as others have said it's mainly about the characters, which are well written and believable.
The book is full of a sort of understated and sometimes grim humour which makes it pretty enjoyable to read. The characters feel very real and a lot is made of their daily routine, their home life, what they like to eat and drink, their frustrations with police work... it gives it an edge over much of the "gritty" stuff that usually turns me off because it's super unrealistic and macho. Also I feel justified in thinking some of the characters are utter pricks and bad and I feel the author agrees with me on that. I dunno, it's just a refreshing change of style. There's a few crappy moments here and there but nothing too awful.
Also it's really interesting reading a book where the Greek junta is talked about as present but without it being a plot point. A lot of late 60s politics appears as background in these books and it interests me… (lisätietoja)
The book is full of a sort of understated and sometimes grim humour which makes it pretty enjoyable to read. The characters feel very real and a lot is made of their daily routine, their home life, what they like to eat and drink, their frustrations with police work... it gives it an edge over much of the "gritty" stuff that usually turns me off because it's super unrealistic and macho. Also I feel justified in thinking some of the characters are utter pricks and bad and I feel the author agrees with me on that. I dunno, it's just a refreshing change of style. There's a few crappy moments here and there but nothing too awful.
Also it's really interesting reading a book where the Greek junta is talked about as present but without it being a plot point. A lot of late 60s politics appears as background in these books and it interests me… (lisätietoja)
Quality police procedural/mystery type novel. Does a kind of "gritty realism" thing but in the opposite direction to the "loose cannon"/gruff spoken detective who witnesses a ton of violence. Here the police officers are very average and get to the solution through hard work, procedure and good luck (and a little bad luck, too). The sort of grittiness is all about sleepless nights and frustration. I'm usually not too big on that sort of thing but the police's fallibility makes it work because it's a very human fallibility - no sudden insights, mistakes are made, but mostly they work hard and things eventually fall into place even though it's a struggle and life sucks. The book often is pretty funny in a very dry way (sometimes less dry) which helps keep it from being depressing. The case resolves in a very satisfying way and it keeps you hooked even without any real action happening. There's a leftist bent to it that appeals to me, as well. Some criticism of the police in general even as you sympathise with who you're seeing.
I will say I thought the treatment of some of the women is pretty misogynistic - some of it can be put down to the misogyny of the men but the treatment of Theresa, for example, feels very unfair and it's a bit gross in places. I don't think it ruins the book but it's a bit of a shame. There's also a 1 sentence description of something that's clearly rape but isn't described as such. That the author could have not noticed that makes me feel very uncomfortable, especially given that it's about a character who's incredibly sexualised (a nymphomaniac). It's 1 sentence so I don't like to make a big deal out of it but I guess I just think the way Theresa is talked about is gross and that was just too much.… (lisätietoja)
I will say I thought the treatment of some of the women is pretty misogynistic - some of it can be put down to the misogyny of the men but the treatment of Theresa, for example, feels very unfair and it's a bit gross in places. I don't think it ruins the book but it's a bit of a shame. There's also a 1 sentence description of something that's clearly rape but isn't described as such. That the author could have not noticed that makes me feel very uncomfortable, especially given that it's about a character who's incredibly sexualised (a nymphomaniac). It's 1 sentence so I don't like to make a big deal out of it but I guess I just think the way Theresa is talked about is gross and that was just too much.… (lisätietoja)
Roseanna by husband and wife team Maj Sjowall and Per Wahloo is the first book in their Martin Beck series of police procedurals. This book was originally published in 1965 yet I found it stands up to today's’ standards very well. These two authors are credited with laying the groundwork for modern Swedish crime fiction.
As Martin Beck hunts for the killer of an American tourist, whose nude body was dredged from a busy waterway, we learn of the value of teamwork. The police inquiry becomes global as they discover that she was most probably thrown from a passenger cruise ship. Through interviews and examination of holiday photographers they are able to piece together how the victim spent her time on the cruiser and, they are able to identify a possible suspect who spent time with her. Martin Beck becomes convinced of this suspects guilt but surveillance doesn’t help so they set a trap.
This is the first book in the series so the characters are introduced and the reader is given a few pointers about their basic personalities. The police work isn’t glamorized but shows the hours of routine, repetition and legwork that is involved. There isn’t anything larger than life or especially heroic about Martin Beck, he comes across as a solid detective whose health and home life aren’t the best. I enjoyed this book and am interested in seeing how the series develops.… (lisätietoja)
As Martin Beck hunts for the killer of an American tourist, whose nude body was dredged from a busy waterway, we learn of the value of teamwork. The police inquiry becomes global as they discover that she was most probably thrown from a passenger cruise ship. Through interviews and examination of holiday photographers they are able to piece together how the victim spent her time on the cruiser and, they are able to identify a possible suspect who spent time with her. Martin Beck becomes convinced of this suspects guilt but surveillance doesn’t help so they set a trap.
This is the first book in the series so the characters are introduced and the reader is given a few pointers about their basic personalities. The police work isn’t glamorized but shows the hours of routine, repetition and legwork that is involved. There isn’t anything larger than life or especially heroic about Martin Beck, he comes across as a solid detective whose health and home life aren’t the best. I enjoyed this book and am interested in seeing how the series develops.… (lisätietoja)
Listat
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Tilastot
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- 13,176
- Suosituimmuussija
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- ISBN:t
- 867
- Kielet
- 23
- Kuinka monen suosikki
- 25
Onno Rüter, der er statssekretær i det nederlandske udenrigsministeriums handelsafdeling bliver udsat for afpresning. En smuk ung kvinde der ligner Greta Garbo præsenterer sig som journalist, men viser ham i stedet nogle afslørende billeder som han kan købe for tre millioner kroner i kontanter. Han forsøger at få hende pågrebet, men det lykkes ikke og hun er som sunket i jorden.
Peter Hill, 51-årig forfatter og tidligere kriminalreporter, skilt fra sin to år yngre kone, Anna, for seks år siden. Han bor i en lejlighed, han har overtaget efter sin farmor, så han bor centralt og billigt i Stockholm. Men han får ikke skrevet så meget. En nyligt pensioneret politikommissær Otto Blom fortæller ham om et pudsig historie om .at et par betjente af Säpo blev sat til at skygge en ung kvinde, der lignede Greta Garbo, men hun snød dem. Ordren om at skygge hende kom højt oppe fra. Fra justitminister Sven Olsson. Men hvorfor?
En hollandsk Opelforhandler Albert Kroonen på 51 år (kaldet Ab) er på messe i Tyskland og keder sig på hotellet. Han skimmer kanalerne inklusive dem med porno og får et chok ved at se sin 21-årige datter i en af dem. Datteren Christine eller Chris eller Chrisje optræder i en svensk produceret episode fra Nereus Film i Stockholm. Han ringer hjem til sin kone Heleen og spørger om hun har hørt noget til Chris. Næste dag tager han et fly til Stockholm og finder ad lidt omveje ud af at en K. Anderson har meldt hende savnet den 23 august 1990. Det er ca en måned siden. En mand Bo Wester har en stor stilling ved Säpo (måske deres næste chef) og har også kig på sagen. Albert Kroonen og Peter Hill mødes oppe ved Christines veninde, Kiki Andersson. Hun fortæller at Chris havde en fyr, Mats Berggren, men han er også forsvundet. Mats var ikke meget ældre end de to piger, måske 23 år, men han sørgede for at levere jobs til dem som callgirls. Kiki, Chris og et par andre. Hans mor bor i nærheden, så de aflægger hende et besøg. Säpo skygger Peter Hill, så de har helt styr på ham. Albert Kroonen ringer til hotellet i Tyskland og får dem til at sende pornofilmen med Chris. Der er også en anden episode med nogle nøgne negerpiger på en ældre motorbåd, Galathea. Båden har Mats arvet efter sin far. Säpo er interesseret i dem, fordi Sven Olsson af hollænderne er blevet bedt om at se på afpresningen af Rüter og det er et godt gæt at Chris er kvinden, der lignede Greta Garbo. Ikke længe efter kommer filmen, sendt med luftfragt, og Kroonen går hen med den til Peter Hill, så de kan kigge efter spor. Fx er Galathea jo også et spor. Hvis man kan finde den, kan man sikkert finde Mats i nærheden. Filmen selv giver ikke så mange spor udover at den er optaget et sted i Skærgården. Chris havde fortalt Kiki noget om en hollænder, der skulle gøre hende rig. Så måske er hun i Holland, for det lader jo ikke til at Säpo har kunnet finde hende i Sverige. Kroonen bestiller en plads i det sene aftenfly til Amsterdam. I lufthavnen dukker Bo Wester op og legitimerer sig og beder om lidt af hans tid inden flyet går. Bo Wester besnakker Ab, så han bliver skeptisk indstillet overfor Peter Hill i alt fald til de mødes igen og Peter har en teori for hvad der foregår. Det går ud på at Mats og Chris har afpresset Rüter med succes. Da denne kender Sven Olsson er Säpo sat på sagen, men de har ikke fundet Mats og Chris. Sagen er hemmeligstemplet, så politiet har ingen rapporter liggende.
Ab køber Peters teori og de er jo klar over at Säpo sikkert skygger dem, så første træk er at slippe væk fra skygningen. De mødes ude i byen og kan snakke uforstyrret sammen. De gætter på at Mats og Chris gemmer sig i Skærgården et sted og det er helt rigtigt. Filmselskabet Bendix Film var ejet af Mats ven Ole Bendix. Han ejede en ø og han døde tidligere på året. Nu er det efterår, så Oles familie har sikkert ikke tænkt sig at dukke op. Mats og Chris har holdt sig skjult der. Egentlig har Mats fået de pas, de skal bruge for at komme videre, men det har han ikke fortalt Chris. I stedet har han gang i et hævntogt. Mats far begik selvmord efter at være blevet drevet til fallit af sine kompagnoner. Bengt Ullman, Gunnar Lundström, Sture Svensson. Nu er Gunnar Lundström og Sture Svensson blevet skudt ned af en ukendt gerningsmand med en måneds mellemrum. Faktisk er gerningsmanden Mats kammerat Lennart, der har fået 25.000 kroner pr drab. Lennart kommer forbi og får 25.000 kr for at udføre det tredie og sidste drab. Imens er Chris ude med Galathea for at handle. Hun kommer tilbage og er ret ophidset, for politiet leder efter Galathea. De får travlt med at male den og Mats siger stadig ikke noget om passene og Lennart. Ab leder også efter øen, for han taler med Kiki, der fortæller om Ole Bendix. Og hun kommer i tanke om at øen hedder Dalarö eller rettere ligger i nærheden af denne. De lejer en båd og smutter fra overvågningen. Imens har Peter Hill snakket med sin ekskone og de har aftalt at mødes. Han ringer til Ullman, men kan ikke finde på noget at sige, så den samtale slutter inden den er begyndt. Senere tager han en taxi derud og kommer til at overraske en mand med en pistol. Det er Lennart. Han når at skyde Ullman, men denne overlever og Lennart bliver selv overmandet af politiet.
Kiki og Ab finder øen og her finder de også Mats og Chris. Mats er rasende over at være opdaget. Det ender med en skudveksling, hvor Mats skyder og dræber en politimand, hvorefter Wester skyder og dræber Mats. Ab og Chris tager tilbage til Holland og Peter Hill har fået en stak penge for at tie stille. Formentlig af Wester.
Udmærket spændingsroman.… (lisätietoja)