Swedish Gothic: Landscapes of Untamed Nature

(Paperback)

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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 todays 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.

Reviews

Yvonne Lefflers latest work on the Gothic tradition in Swedish literature proceeds inspiringly from literature to film and TV-drama, from Emilie Flygare-Carln and Selma Lagerlf to John Ajvide Lindqvist, from transgressive female monsters to Nordic Noir, from trolls to witches. By using a contextualizing comparative perspective, this impressive work highlights the characteristic features of Swedish Gothic from the nineteenth century till the current boom of Nordic crime stories, with regard to transnational developments. In a fascinating way, Leffler presents central position of setting the Nordic wilderness with dark forests, snow-covered artic fells, remote wintry islands and to the use of local myths in contemporary Gothic Crime, while addressing issues of environmental exploitation, colonisation and racism Kati Launis, PhD, Adjunct Professor of Finnish literature, University of Turku, Finland, a co-author of Gothic Topografies: Language, Nation Building and Race.

Despite enjoying a cultural heritage that can be traced as far back as 1800, Swedish Gothic has been unjustly neglected by scholars of the genre. Professor Lefflers comprehensive study corrects this omission and locates Sweden at the dark heart of the European uncanny. This is a work of transcultural significance William Hughes, University of Macau.

Author Bio

Yvonne Leffler is Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.