Crime Time asked Sofia Odberg of Sweden's important Norden Agency (whose clients include Camilla Läckberg, Mons Kallentoft and Carin Gerhardsen) about her country's image in crime fiction (particularly in the work of Stieg Larsson) — the answers are instructive...
I personally think that the Sweden Stieg Larsson portrays is something of a fantasy – a corrupt and violent place that I don't really recognise. But then again, there is a lot of "sleaze" going on behind the flawless exterior. Only recently, a top police commissioner was revealed to be involved in quite a sordid affair, involving underaged girls and rape. Perhaps Stieg Larsson knew more than we did?
I think there may be more than meets the eye going on beneath the surface in Sweden, but obviously the Millennium Trilogy is purely a work of fiction. My guess is that he mixed true events that he had come across through his work as an investigative journalist with boyhood adventures and comic book heroes (which Lisbeth Salander clearly is). In some ways, Blomqvist appears to represent fact: the authenticity, the gravity, while Salander represents fiction: the invincible superheroine.
As for the pervasive sexual abuse of the Larsson books, it might be instructive to watch Lukas Moodyson's "Lilya 4-ever" and you'll discover a new image of Sweden.
Sweden can no longer call itself a welfare state and is constantly dropping in the rankings over the best countries to live. People have become too greedy and many are prepared to sell their last ounce of solidarity for an extra 20 quid in the wallet come payday. I guess Sweden is as infected by neo-liberalism as most other Western countries.
Sweden is definitely a stronghold where feminism is concerned. Women play an integral part in both society and media. As a consequence, I think many men have accepted taking a step back – just look at the generous paternity leave for an example. I believe there is a good co-existence between men and women in Sweden.
After having lived abroad for a long time I was pretty disappointed upon my return to Sweden in 2007. There is a more visible class divide and I think we will see an increase in crime and poverty as a minority of people will get richer at the expense of the working class. I see no change in society as long as there isn't a change in attitude. I am – unfortunately – feeling quite pessimistic, but hopefully I will be proven wrong.
