SCANDINAVIAN CRIME NOVELS—TRANQUILITY OR BLEAKNESS?

SCANDINAVIAN CRIME NOVELS—TRANQUILITY OR BLEAKNESS? Dick and Chris Weisfelder called my attention to this article asking why Scandinavians write great crime novels. Dick and Chris had just visited Ystad, population 17,000, a fishing village where Henning Mankell’s crimes take place. Nathaniel Rich takes the position in the article that crime novels set in Scandinavia evoke “an almost sublime tranquility”. and that [w]hen a crime occurs, it is shocking exactly because it disrupts a world that, at least to an American reader, seems utopian in its peacefulness, happiness, and orderliness.” Rich cites an article with a contrary view. Joan Smith suggests bleakness as the explanation for the popularity of Swedish crime novels: “Maybe their relentlessly bleak view of the world makes us feel that our lives are better than we imagined, allowing us the pleasure of wallowing in pessimism at a safe distance.” I have not yet read any of the novels in question, but I will soon.