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Stieg Larsson - mannen bakom Lisbeth Salander

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För alla som gillar litteratur. Litteraturmagazinet vänder sig till alla som gillar att en god bok, som planerar att läsa Viskleken av Arne Dahl eller Änglamakerskan av Camilla Läckberg


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Welcome to StiegLarsson.com! - here you find everything about Stieg Larsson. Don't miss our huge forum, the Stockholm Millennium Map, and much more....

Millennium-trilogy

The Millennium-trilogy consist of "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo", "The Girl Who Played With Fire", and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest".

A well prepared debutant

Stieg Larsson began thinking about writing detective novels back in the early 90's, according to co-worker Anna-Lena Lodenius in an interview with the Swedish newspaper Veckans Affärer. He had always been interested in particularly Anglo-Saxon literature and knew the works of Elizabeth George, Minette Walters and Sara Paretsky very well. He knew what ingredients a good detective story should have, and he even reluctantly decided to spice it up with a bit of sex as it would probably please his readers.

A regrettable refusal

As for his work as a journalist, his preparations for the series were thorough. Before he started writing, he had made a detailed synopsis for ten books. He started writing in 1997, and it was not until he had finished the first two books and had the third one under way that he contacted a publisher in the summer of 2003. His first contact was with publisher Piratförlaget, which refused his script twice, perhaps the biggest mistake in Swedish publishing history. Instead, it was the publisher Nordstedts which got the opportunity to sign him in late 2003. With them, Stieg Larsson signed a contract of three books, an exceptional opportunity for an unpublished writer. The publishing rights were also bought by German and Norwegian publisher before it was even published in Sweden. During 2004 Stieg Larsson made minor adjustments to his two finished books and finished the third. When he died in November 2004, it was only a few months before the first book of the Millennium-series was released to the Swedish audience and became an immediate success.

Pippi Longstocking as a source of inspiration

Kenneth Ahlborn, a former colleague of Stieg's at TT, says in an interview with Veckans Affärer that Stieg got the idea for the character Lisbeth Salander after a discussion during a break from work. They were talking about how different characters from children's books would manage and behave if they were alive and grown up. Stieg especially liked the idea about a grown up Pippi Longstocking, a dysfunctional girl, probably with attention deficit disorder who would have had a hard time finding a regular place in the "normal society", and he used part those characteristics when he created lisbeth Salander.

Screen versions of the trilogy

It early became clear that the very popular books would be made in screen versions. In 2008 production began in Sweden, and the three books was shot back-to-back into three movies during the  following year. The three movies were given the same names as the books. In the Swedish versions, male actor Michael Nyqvist plays Michael Blomkvist, while Noomi Rapace plays Lisbeth Salander. 

Meanwhile the books were a major hit all over the world and it did not take long for Hollywood to see the huge potential in the thrilogy. The legal rights for the novels were set between Columbia Pictures, Stieg Larssons brothers and father and Yellow Bird, the production company behind the swedish films. Production was put on a fast track and the the search to fill the roles started.

In the end Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig were casted as leads playing Lisbeth Salander and Michael Blomkvist.

Read more about the films here



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ONLY HAD READ THE FIRST,COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN,LOVE IT!!!!

- , 3 February 2012

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How I started reading the books was when I had watched the Swedish movies on Netflix. I had been curious about the movie before the movie became really popular, and had started watching it after passing the first movie a few times while I was looking for something to watch. After watching the trilogy a few times, I decided to read the first book, to see how I liked it. So I read the sample of the first book on my Nook color, being hooked onto it right away. As I read it, I understood more of why the characters did what they did, and what else happened during that time, which was a nice insight onto the movie itself. There are a few parts that are really detailed and long, but nevertheless, I loved reading the book. Now I'm on the third book, and like I said, it's a great insight to what the characters motives where during all of the stories.

I just wish Stieg Larsson was alive to see how popular

his books became. And I wish that the series could have continued to the ten books

he had originally wanted, but I'm pleased with how the third movie had ended, and I'm pretty excited to see how the third book ends.

- Nicole, 3 February 2012

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suck a bood book perfecltiy plotted and plannned

- , 3 February 2012

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I first heard of the Millennium trilogy when I was living in Russia, unfortunately I couldn't read Russian. In 2010 I relocated to the UK and arranged for the Hampshire library service to get me all three novels. As I was waiting for my wife to join me I was able to read all three almost continuously over a week. Hooked absolutely in the first few pages, shocked and horrified at the chapter headings. Love female heroines and lisbeth is top of my list.

Checked out Wikipeadia and found out about the film versions and watched those last year. Naomi Race brought my imaginary lisbeth to life and the other characters fulfilled the promise of the novels. The US version was ok but so far away from the novels .................

Now I've got the Millennium TV extended version, I;m so taken that I guess I will have to buy the books and reread them and hope some one, Steg Larsons lady hopefully, wii finish the fourt nove

- Technoterri Gagarin-Rawlings, 2 February 2012

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Sitting at the movies was my first introduction to this intense thriller. I was captivated and wanted more. I bought the 2nd and 3rd millennium and did nothing else but read . Non stop drama loved every page I turned . Wish there was more.

- Paulette, 30 January 2012

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Stumbled upon this website about Steig Larrson. Does this site have an editor?

So many grammatical errors and misspellings! This website is so hard to read. I believe Eva would have done a better job keeping the website up to Steig's standards. What a shame. An article about Steig in Vanity Fair magazine gives a more personal view of this great writer.

- Diana Mc, 26 January 2012

You spelled Stiegs name (first and last)

wrong so maybe you shouldn't throw stones ; )

- buerkle63, 31 January 2012

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I saw the movie "The girl who played with fire". Speechless I have been till it's finished. Fallen in love with Lizbeth in the movie.

And of course, none but Noomi is the only one who could play the girl who played with fire in the real sense.

Hats off to you NOOMI !

- M Alimul Hyder, 24 January 2012

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Seems a shame that the movie people have to scavenge any and every intellectual property they can make a trilogy out of.

That said, I'm a novelist and would be glad to entertain any and all offers 8)

- Alan Schulz, 23 January 2012

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The books and movies will catch you and you'll keep reading (or watching) till the end. You can't stop. And when you're finished, it leaves you sad... I wanted to dig back into that atmosphere and fascinating character of Salander again. So what did I do after reading all 3 books last year, seeing the 3 Scandinavian movies last year, and just having seen the first US version of the movie - to fill in the gap? Well, instead of waiting for the other two US movies I decided to just RE-read the books! Will there ever be another book like this? I doubt it. Magnificent. Why oh why did Stieg have to die....?

- Miranda, 21 January 2012

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One of the best books I have read for ages -The girl with the dragon tattoo. I can't wait to read the other two

- M. Hughes, 17 January 2012

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Stieg Larsson

Bestselling writer

A diverse background

Stieg Larsson (1954-2004) was a Swedish writer and journalist.

Prior to his sudden death of a heart attack in November 2004 he finished three detective novels in his trilogy "The Millenium-series" which were published posthumously; "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo", "The Girl Who Played With Fire" and "The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest". Altogether, his trilogy has sold more than 20 million copies in 41 countries (spring of 2010), and he was the second bestselling author in the world 2008.

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STIEG LARSSON, 1954-2004

Before his career as a writer, Stieg Larsson was mostly known for his struggle against racism and right-wing extremism. Starting in the late 1970's, he combined his work as a graphic designer with holding lectures on right-wing extremism for the Scotland Yard. During the following years he became an expert on the subject and has held many lectures as well as written many novels on the subject. In 1995, when 8 persons were killed by neo-Nazis I Sweden, he was the main force behind the founding of the Expo-foundation, a group intended on exposing neo-Nazi activity in Sweden. From 1999 and on, he was appointed chief editor of the magazine Expo.

During the last 15 years of his life, he and his life companion Eva Gabrielsson lived under constant threat from right-wing violence.

Read more ...

The legacy

Controversy surrounding the legacy

Stieg left no written will, and according to Swedish law, Stieg's full estate was inherited by his father and brother. This sparked a dispute between them and Stieg's life companion Eva Gabrielsson, who was left with nothing. The situation is complicated by the fact that Eva controls the script for the 4th book in the Millennium series.

Read more ...

The 4th Book

"I can finish the fourth manuscript"

In the book "Stieg and Moi" that Eva Gabrielsson (Stieg Larsson's life companion) is currently writing together with Marie Francois Colombani, Eva says that she could finish the fourth manuscript that Stieg and her had already started working on.  She also reveals the swedish title of the fourth manuscript, "Guds hämd" ( english translation: God's revenge)

Read more ...

Support the work against rasicm

Take action now - Support Stieg Larsson's cause!

Stieg Larsson's organization the Expo Foundation is launching a international fundraising site for intensified efforts against organized intolerance. They want to involve people who appreciate what they are doing and who want them to do more. On the site you can create your own supporters' group and invite friends, colleagues and others to participate.

Visit exposupporter.se ...

Praised actress in the limelight

Rooney Mara praised as Lisbeth Salander

Ronney Mara has been highly praised for her role as Lisbeth Salander in David Finchers version of "The girl with the dragon tattoo". Mara has only in a few years made if from tv shows like "ER" to becom on of Hollywoods most wanted actresses.

 

Read more ...

Hollywood movies

Remake by David Fincher

Columbia Pictures has bought the rights to make a Hollywood version of the Millenium films. Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara has been apointed to play Michael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander. Signed on to the project is also the writer Steve Zaillian (Se7en) and director David Fincher (Fight Club, Se7ven).

Read more ...

Career

A unusual path

There are many ways to become writer, and even though, Stiegs path is quite unusual.

He started working at a post office, moving on to a graphic designer job at a news bureau, starting the Expo foundation and working as chief editor. And somewhere in the middle of all this, a great writer steps forward.

Read more ...
Noomi Rapace

Acknowledged actress

Noomi Rapace

In the original movies based on the Millennium trilogy, Lisbeth Salander is played by Swedish actress Noomi Rapace. Noomi is a well acknowledged actress with fifteen years of experience as an actress.

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Life companion

Eva Gabrielsson

In this interview by the Swedish national televsision, Stieg Larsson's life companion Eva Gabrielsson reveals the truth behind the man that was Stieg Larsson. She discusses her claims in the controversy surrounding Stieg's legacy as well as her claims for a part of the royalty.

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Personal background

A life under constant threat

During the last 15 years of his life, he and his life companion Eva Gabrielsson lived under constant threat from right-wing violence. 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.

Read more ...
Millennium Stockholm Map

Millennium Stockholm Map

Get to know Stieg Larsson's Stockholm

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The trilogy

Millennium trilogy

Stieg Larsson had always been interested in detective novels, and he was very familiar the works of Elizabeth George and Minette Walters. He knew what ingredients a good detective story should have, and he even reluctantly decided to spice it up with a bit of sex as it would probably please his readers.

Read more ...

Discussion

Discussion boards

Stieglarsson.com features a huge forum filled with ongoing discussions on our beloved writer.

Is your prime interest the movies being made? Or are you a huge fan of Lisbeth Salander?

Take a look and join the discussion!

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