Nordic Noir: The Pocket Essential Guide to Scandinavian Crime Fiction, Film & TV

by Barry Forshaw

Overview

A compact and authoritative guide to the phenomenally popular genre, by a leading expert in Scandinavian crime fiction

This information-packed study examines and celebrates books, films, and TV adaptations, from Sjöwall and Wahlöö's highly influential Martin Beck series through Henning Mankell's Wallander (subject of three separate TV series) to Stieg Larsson's groundbreaking The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo; cult TV hits such as the Danish The Killing, The Bridge, and the political thriller Borgen; up to the massively successful books and films of the current king of the field, Norway's Jo Nesbø. It anatomizes the nigh-obsessive appeal of the subject and highlights every key book, film, and TV show. Aimed at both the beginner and the aficionado, this is a hugely informative, highly accessible guide to an essential crime genre.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781842439876
Publisher:	Oldcastle Books
Publication date:	09/01/2013
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Barry Forshaw is an expert on crime fiction, and writes extensively on film. He is the author of the Pocket Essentials Italian Cinema, The Man Who Left Too Soon, and The Rough Guide to Crime Fiction. He has written for various national newspapers, edits Crime Time, and is a talking head for ITV and BBC TV documentaries. He was previously the vice chair of the Crime Writers' Association.

Table of Contents

Introduction 9

Chapter 1 Beginnings: Sjöwall & Wahlöö's Martin Beck Series 13

Chapter 2 Sweden's Trojan House: Kurt Wallander 17

Chapter 3 Lisbeth Salander's Legacy 31

Chapter 4 Larsson's Rivals 40

Chapter 5 The New King: Jo Nesbo and Other Norwegians 81

Chapter 6 Dark Nights in Iceland and Finland 100

Chapter 7 Darkness in Denmark 110

Chapter 8 The Nordic Screen: Film and TV adaptations 118

Epilogue Some Names to Watch For 146

Appendices 149

Index 157