Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden, is not only a hub of culture, politics, and history — it is also a city that has inspired novelists over the years and served as the living, breathing backdrop for myriad literary works.
These novels delve into various genres, from the supernatural to crime to romance, showcasing the diverse atmosphere of Stockholm through their unique narratives.
Let’s take a literary journey through Stockholm with these captivating novels.
Set in the Stockholm suburb of Blackeberg in the early 1980s, “Let the Right One In” is a novel that deftly combines horror with a touching story of friendship and love.
It tells the chilling tale of a young boy named Oskar who befriends his new neighbor—a mysterious child named Eli, who is, in truth, a vampire.
Lindqvist’s haunting prose and the cold Stockholm setting create the perfect atmosphere for this dark, yet deeply human, narrative.
In another twist on the supernatural genre, John Ajvide Lindqvist’s “Handling the Undead” takes us back to the streets of Stockholm.
This time, the city is faced with a bizarre phenomenon: people who have recently died return to life but are not quite themselves.
The story examines the moral and emotional implications for Stockholm’s inhabitants as they navigate this uncanny reality, making it a deep exploration of love, loss, and what it means to be human.
A classic work of Swedish literature, “Doctor Glas” is a psychological novel that was ahead of its time when published in 1905.
Hjalmar Söderberg’s protagonist, a physician in turn-of-the-century Stockholm, becomes ensnared in a morally ambiguous situation involving a corrupt clergyman and his wife.
Söderberg’s Stockholm is one of moody introspection, with the city’s landscape reflecting the inner turmoil of Doctor Glas himself.
“The Serious Game” is a love story entrenched in the realities of life and the social conventions of Stockholm society.
The novel follows the love affair between two individuals, Arvid Stjärnblom and Lydia Stille, and how it evolves over the years.
The relationship is played out against the backdrop of Stockholm, which plays a significant role in their romance and the choices they make.
Diving into the underbelly of Stockholm’s criminal world, “Easy Money” is a gritty novel that unveils the darker side of the city’s glamorous façade.
Jens Lapidus presents a realistic view of the struggle for power among gangs in Stockholm, where money and violence are two sides of the same coin.
The novel offers a stark contrast to the picturesque scenery that often characterizes perceptions of Stockholm.
“Three Seconds” is a fast-paced thriller by the writing duo of Anders Roslund and Börge Hellström that takes readers into the world of police informants and the ethical gray areas they inhabit.
Set in the prisons and urban landscapes of Stockholm, the plot twists and high stakes keep the tensions rising—a stark reminder that this capital city can also be a place of shadows.
The historical saga “City of My Dreams” begins in 1860 and follows the life of Henning Nilsson as he grows up in the changing landscape of Stockholm.
The novel is a rich portrayal of Swedish social history, offering readers a vivid depiction of Stockholm’s transformation from a small town to a bustling urban center throughout the generations.
Per Anders Fogelström’s work brings the past alive, making history walk the streets of Stockholm.
Carrying on from where “City of My Dreams” left off, “In a City Transformed” continues the journey through Stockholm’s history.
Here the city undergoes further changes, and so do the lives of the characters, amidst the tumult of the First World War and the decades following.
Fogelström’s narrative serves as an ode to the resilience of Stockholm and its residents during times of upheaval.
Set in Stockholm during the 1970s, “Gentlemen” follows an aspiring writer who becomes involved with the eccentric Morgan brothers.
The novel draws a vivid picture of the city as well as the era, juxtaposing the charm and grit of Stockholm alongside the life-changing escapades of the central characters.
The sequel to “Gentlemen,” “Gangsters” continues to explore the city of Stockholm, this time taking us into the 1980s.
The novel further delves into the lives of the charismatic Morgan brothers, set against a backdrop of a Stockholm that is, itself, evolving.
The blend of nostalgia and narrative innovation offers a fresh look at the city through the lens of its inhabitants.
Referred to as the first modern Swedish novel, “The Red Room” is a satire of Stockholm society and the Swedish cultural scene in the 1870s.
Strindberg’s Stockholm is a buzzing, social critiquing environment where a young idealist struggles with his convictions and desires amidst the city’s artists and journalists.
“Alone” is another Strindberg classic that brings together Stockholm’s exquisite natural environment and the internal world of its protagonist.
The novel showcases the city as a place of reflection, with the open waters and islands around Stockholm facilitating a special kind of lonely introspection exclusive to the city.