Millennium trilogy
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
The Girl Who Played with Fire
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest
The 4th Book
Millennium Stockholm Map
Maps of Hedeby
Stieg Larsson was born in Västerbotten in northern Sweden in 1954. At the time of his birth, his parents were too young and too poor to keep him, so he was raised by his grandparents in a small village in the north of Sweden. Stieg's grandfather, Severin Boström, became the male role model for the young Stieg. Severin was strongly anti-fascist [and during the Second World War he was imprisoned in the work camp in Storsien for his anti-Nazi opinions]*. Had he been Danish, he would no doubt have been placed in a German Concentration Camp. 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 grand father, from repeating itself.
* Stieg's father, Erland Larsson, says to stieglarsson.com that nobody in the family can confirm the information about the camp.
When Stieg was nine years old, his grandfather died and he moved to live with his parents and his younger brother. Stieg was given a typewriter for his 12th birthday, and he spent most nights of his youth staying up writing, keeping his family awake with the drumming sound. At 18 years of age he met Eva Gabrielsson at an anti-Vietnam War meeting in Umeå. Eva was to become his life long companion. With some short exceptions, mainly due to the fact that Stieg was sometimes too obsessed with his work, they lived together until Stiegs death the 9th November 2004. After his military service, Stieg travelled in Africa and has been described as "an early backpacker". He rarely had enough money on his travels, in an interview with Norra Västerbotten in 2006, his father describes how he had to work as a dishwasher and sell his clothes to afford a ticket home from Algeria.
Stieg Larsson was also interested in Science Fiction. Among other things was he the chairman of the Scandinavian science fiction society and published two magazines.
During the last 15 years of his life, he and his life companion Eva Gabrielsson lived under constant threat from right-wing violence. When a labor-union leader was murdered in his home by neo-Nazis in 1999, the police discovered photos of and information about the couple in the murderer's apartment. So it was not without reason that the couple took precautionary measures. They were never seen together outside the house, they moved mirrors in the hall and they always kept the blinds down. Those are just a few examples. Stieg was an expert in the area, and wrote a book of instructions on how journalists should respond to threats for the Swedish Union of Journalists ("Överleva Deadline", 2000).
The situation created a contrast between Stieg's work at Expo and his night-time novel writing. He regarded his writing of detective novels as relaxing. Keeping track of loose ends, characters and made up conspiracies posedno problem since it was, after all, fiction and no one would threaten either Eva or himself because of it.
I finished all three books and I'm sadden that I will no longer be able to read about Lisbeth Salander!! I almost didn't want to keep reading the last book because I knew that was the end and I didn't wanted to end. I wish his life companion Eva all the best in the world!!
- Fatima Ayala, 26 April 2012
I know how you feel. I am reading the last book now and trying to make it last. I am on page 508. I even put aside and read a James Patterson book to prolong Stieg's last book.
- , 1 May 2012
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I have just finished the first of the three completed novels and am hooked. Also, curious about the author thus finding this website. I note that the authors of this website declare it's "unofficial" and not affiliated with the family. Still, do you know the current status of the fourth book, and more importantly, how Larrson's life partner is doing now? Yes, it is very sad as many have noted, that he died so young. He was a brilliant, and obviously compassionate person who had a passion for life. He lives on through his writings and his life's work exposing right wing extremism, and extremists.
- Barbara B. Bartholomew, 22 April 2012
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I was so intrigued with all three books. Once started it was hard to put them down. My husband and I loved the court trial in the 3rd book. I also felt that the movie was well done- followed the book closely except for just a few changes. I'm so sorry that Stieg died so young. I'm sure he would have given us many more good reads. It sounds like the story of his life would be a great read, also.
- Joan Y. Grovom, 21 April 2012
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I agree with MES Each one of those books you just wont want to put down and crave for the next one. When you have finished the last one you will be sad that it is over.
- Jim Steucklert, 20 April 2012
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The best I've read in years!! You must read all three back to back.
- MES, 19 April 2012
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I am extremly glad that my teacher actually let me write my report on "The Girl that Played with Fire"!!! Shh, don't tell her that i already read all three extremly good books. :)
- Xcution, 19 April 2012
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- , 15 April 2012
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Could Steig have been murdered because of his envolvement with hunting down Nazis.
- maria, 14 April 2012
I feel his expose of the history of Swedish security forces and spying in general could have placed added risk on his already Nazis hunting interest.
- , 16 April 2012
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I'm on the 3rd book, I waited too long in between the 3rd and 2nd and it's a little hard to remember all that transpired. My advise to anyone would be to read all 3 back to back.
I came here to the site to read the cause of Steigs death and now would like to know more about his life. I hope someone will write his life's story.
- Sherry Shadyac, Memphis,Tn, 12 April 2012
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I was always intrigued by the titles of the 3 books in this series, and one day on a whim bought the first one when I happened to come across it at the store. I proceeded to finish it, and the 2 sequels, in record time, despite being 800+ pages long! Once you start I defy you to put them down. I found that being based in Sweden held a different kind of pull, because it was interesting to learn about Sweden and its' people and culture. Such a shame that he died so young.
- maureen, 17 May 2012