The book explores the Gothic tradition in Swedish literature. It aims to give an overview of the development of Swedish Gothic from the Romantic age until today and to highlight the characteristic features of the Swedish tradition of Gothic in relation to transnational developments, in particular in relation to the Anglo-American tradition. By using a contextualising comparative perspective, it highlights the most prevalent and prominent feature of Swedish Gothic, the significance of the Nordic landscape, the wilderness and local folklore. In Swedish fiction, the terror is not pointing to the medieval period but is located in pre-Christian, pagan times. Especially in today’s Gothic narratives, the presence of mythical creatures and nature beings, such as trolls, tomtes or vittras enhances the Gothic atmosphere. Other domestic trends are Gothic crime stories, where supernatural creatures and powers constantly obstruct the modern crime investigation, and the use of gendered and female monsters.
Table of Content
An Introduction to Swedish Gothic: History and Works; The Nordic Wilderness and Its Monstrous Creatures; The Gender-Coded Landscape and Transgressive Female Monsters; Nordic Noir and Gothic Crimes; Swedish Gothic: Dark Forces of the Wilderness; Notes; List of Swedish Titles Referred to in the Book; Bibliography; Index
About the author
Yvonne Leffler is Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
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