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Review: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

A Brilliantly engineered Novel"

Stieg Larsson's early death is a great loss, sader still as the ten-unpublished trilogy he left behind is sweeping the globe. The Swedish title of the first novel, released in America as Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, was Men who Hate Women. That, and the quotes that he puts in his Part Separators and his storytelling manner telegraph his strong commitment to telling Larsson's truth about men's violence against women. There are even rumors, not yet backed up by any evidence, that he was murdered for his political beliefs.

What intrigues me is the canny way he was able to manage Point of View, the subject I've been teaching this summer. Technically, the book is an extended argument for large omniscient narration. We dip into key character's heads only long enough to establish their motivation and quickly move to another character. The novel's obvious protagonist is Mikael Blomkvist, but the reader doesn't stay with him long enough to make it "his book". Blomkvist has a passivity that, while it may make him suspect to American audiences, works to the overall advantage of the book and Larsson's sweeping vision. In a book filled with manipulative controlling men, Blomkvist has the knack of lying low and letting the world come to him.

Larsson's cleverest nuance might be related to Salander, the novel's second protagonist, the strong female with the dragon tattoo. In a separate character-developing subplot, Salander violently turns the tables on a man who rapes her. Salander plays a big role in the major plot as well, using her hacker-investigator skills to assist Blomkvist solve the central mystery of the novel. Half Blomkvist's age, but fully his equal or superior as an investigator, Salander falls for Blomkvist, and hard. She is one of several strong female characters with whom Blomkvist metaphorically dances for the length of the novel. Sexually, they come to him, which allows Larsson the space to weave his tale with no neediness on the part of his protagonist. This fits with his theme, which seems to be that women can do wonders on their own if they're not subordinated, through trickery and even violence, by men. It works.

Posted by Kevin Arnold in Portola Valley, CA the 15 May 2010


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What would 4-10 have been like! can't belive that he died so soon - before the success and before he concluded a seies that was already unbeliveable great but what would have most likely been untouchable!!

- , 5 June 2010

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

 

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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