ID :
30054
Thu, 11/13/2008 - 16:34
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/30054
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Second book in trilogy by late Swedish journalist to be published in S. Korea
By Kim Young-gyo
SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- The second book of a best-selling trilogy by a late Swedish journalist will be published in South Korea next week, the Swedish Ambassador to South Korea said Thursday.
The "Millennium" became a worldwide bestseller after the death of its Swedish
author and journalist Stieg Larsson.
The Korean translation of the first book in the trilogy, re-named "The Girl with
the Dragon Tattoo" in English, was published in July.
Critically acclaimed not only in Sweden but also in many European countries,
including France, the book has enjoyed strong sales in 35 countries throughout
the world.
"The success of this trilogy can be viewed by the fact that it was published in
all the major languages of the world, Korean now being one of them," said
Ambassador Lars Vargo to reporters at a press reception held at the ambassador's
residence.
Larsson, who was born in 1954, worked as a journalist for many years before
becoming a writer, the ambassador said.
"As a journalist, he became very well known for writing very critically against
racism and prejudice," he said. His political convictions as well as his
journalistic experiences led him to take the initiative in starting a journal
called EXPO, exposing racist and totalitarian organizations.
At the time of his death in November 2004, he left three unpublished novels that
now make up the trilogy.
"He started to write (the trilogy) as late as 2001," Vargo said. "But being a
journalist he was a very fast writer." He added that Larsson wrote not for
himself but for his audience, and described his style as "very elegant, but
simple and straight forward."
"Unfortunately, he had a heart attack just as he finished the trilogy. Some
people live like a candle that burns slowly, but some people burst into flames
quickly. He was such a person, I think," the ambassador said.
In Sweden, the trilogy has sold over 3 million copies in a country with a
population of 9 million, he added.
Larsson's work tells the story of a middle-aged journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, who
publishes a magazine called "Millennium" in Stockholm and soon finds himself
involved in a series of mysterious crimes. With each book in the trilogy, Larsson
weaves an entirely new plot around his central character.
"The surname of Mikael Blomkvist, one of the heroes in Larsson's books, was
inspired by another book written by one of the most famous Swedish authors,
Astrid Lindgren," the ambassador said.
Lindgren, who died at the age of 94 in 2002, is best remembered for her
children's stories, most notably the Pippi Longstocking series, which gained
worldwide attention.
"She wrote a book called 'Master Detective Blomkvist,' a story about a
twelve-year boy detective," he explained.
"It's one of the books my generation grew up with. She wrote for children, he
wrote for grown-ups," Vargo said.
SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- The second book of a best-selling trilogy by a late Swedish journalist will be published in South Korea next week, the Swedish Ambassador to South Korea said Thursday.
The "Millennium" became a worldwide bestseller after the death of its Swedish
author and journalist Stieg Larsson.
The Korean translation of the first book in the trilogy, re-named "The Girl with
the Dragon Tattoo" in English, was published in July.
Critically acclaimed not only in Sweden but also in many European countries,
including France, the book has enjoyed strong sales in 35 countries throughout
the world.
"The success of this trilogy can be viewed by the fact that it was published in
all the major languages of the world, Korean now being one of them," said
Ambassador Lars Vargo to reporters at a press reception held at the ambassador's
residence.
Larsson, who was born in 1954, worked as a journalist for many years before
becoming a writer, the ambassador said.
"As a journalist, he became very well known for writing very critically against
racism and prejudice," he said. His political convictions as well as his
journalistic experiences led him to take the initiative in starting a journal
called EXPO, exposing racist and totalitarian organizations.
At the time of his death in November 2004, he left three unpublished novels that
now make up the trilogy.
"He started to write (the trilogy) as late as 2001," Vargo said. "But being a
journalist he was a very fast writer." He added that Larsson wrote not for
himself but for his audience, and described his style as "very elegant, but
simple and straight forward."
"Unfortunately, he had a heart attack just as he finished the trilogy. Some
people live like a candle that burns slowly, but some people burst into flames
quickly. He was such a person, I think," the ambassador said.
In Sweden, the trilogy has sold over 3 million copies in a country with a
population of 9 million, he added.
Larsson's work tells the story of a middle-aged journalist, Mikael Blomkvist, who
publishes a magazine called "Millennium" in Stockholm and soon finds himself
involved in a series of mysterious crimes. With each book in the trilogy, Larsson
weaves an entirely new plot around his central character.
"The surname of Mikael Blomkvist, one of the heroes in Larsson's books, was
inspired by another book written by one of the most famous Swedish authors,
Astrid Lindgren," the ambassador said.
Lindgren, who died at the age of 94 in 2002, is best remembered for her
children's stories, most notably the Pippi Longstocking series, which gained
worldwide attention.
"She wrote a book called 'Master Detective Blomkvist,' a story about a
twelve-year boy detective," he explained.
"It's one of the books my generation grew up with. She wrote for children, he
wrote for grown-ups," Vargo said.
