Maj Sjöwall on the Martin Beck series and her life
Annie C
Just read this excellent profile of Maj Sj�wall who with her partner, the
late Per Wahl��, created the iconic and influential Martin Beck series in
1960s Sweden. (Seems so unfair that she's not profited much at all from
books sales, despite having sold millions of copies worldwide...)
I discovered these fine books decades ago... and have read them in order.
And what an amazing series it is -- for without this model, we may never
have seen the likes of Rebus, Wallender, or many others.
Annie
family
"Annie C" <anni...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:7mtb1vF...@mid.individual.net...
Now there is yet another *RAM* author suggestion we shall have to check out.
Jean B.
I hope all of them will be, and soon at that. Obviously, I
enjoyed the book. I wonder whether these books greatly influenced
Henning Mankell, because his style is extremely similar (or so I
thought).
--
Jean B.
barbara fister
> I just finished the first Martin Beck book. it was reissued, and I hope
> all of them will be, and soon at that. Obviously, I enjoyed the book.
> I wonder whether these books greatly influenced Henning Mankell, because
> his style is extremely similar (or so I thought).
>
They influenced everybody! The main similarity with Mankell, though, is
that Martin Beck is a little rumpled and has a cold and isn't heroic.
There's a lot of low-key humor in the books and very little in the way
of high drama. I wish Mankell had a bit more of their light touch.
They are often said to have imitated Ed McBain's 87th precinct series
because they translated it into Swedish (along with Robert B. Parker and
others) but they had written several Martin Beck books before
encountering McBain. That's a terrific profile that Annie posted.
Barfly
Annie C
"barbara fister" <bfi...@hickorytech.net> wrote in message
news:wcednUWWvbv5dZbW...@bright.net...
I was thrilled to run across that feature, esp. since I wasn't even aware
the Maj S was still living. Those books were hugely influential on so many,
as you say...
One interesting thing that I never knew before was that they were never
legally married. They're always referred to as a 'husband and wife" writing
team.. Since this is Sweden, I immediately thought of the inheritance
problems and legal wrangling that Steig Larsson's SO has had since his
death.. Could be that Maj only receives half of any royalties because of the
same laws. A shame too that her original contract hasn't been renegotiated
after all these decades. Someone (the publisher?) must be raking in the
profits with all those sales through the years, but evidently it's not not
Maj Sjowall..
A number of years ago, they rereleased all the Beck books in pb... so I have
every single one on my shelf.
Methinks a re-reading of these classics should be in order in the near
future.
Annie
Jean B.
The last paragraph interests me. I'll have to compare some of
these.
I rather like the human frailties that are abundantly evident in
the series I alluded to. The protagonists have problems and can
be somewhat morose. They even have bodily functions.
--
Jean B.