A year ago we had never heard of Henning Mankell, an internationally known Swedish author and playwright. Time Magazine brought him to D-Mo's attention. Since then, we have read every book (about eight) in his Kurt Wallander detective/mystery series.
Indications from the writer, and events in the latest book, seem to reveal that the recent "Troubled Man" was the final Wallander book. D-Mo said to me: "It feels like we have lost a friend!" Wallander was not your every day run-of-the-mill tough cop, "taking perps out" with great relish.
Indications from the writer, and events in the latest book, seem to reveal that the recent "Troubled Man" was the final Wallander book. D-Mo said to me: "It feels like we have lost a friend!" Wallander was not your every day run-of-the-mill tough cop, "taking perps out" with great relish.
He was a regular guy with a rumpled jacket, unshaven (before unshaven was “in”), on a budget, doing his own cooking and laundry, forgetting to sign up for the washing machine in his building, forgetting or seldom carrying his gun, having toothaches or stomach distress, suffering insomnia, and sadly having only one recipe in his cooking repertoire---the omelet. Nonetheless, he was a brilliant, incisive, perceptive, and excellent detective.
The thing about Wallander books is that Mankell made every detail--- going to the market, getting a cup of coffee, driving to a crime scene, deciding to walk to work, watching a cold Swedish norther through his apartment window, doing his laundry, trying to whip up a snack, and his general mental processes---as interesting as the more dramatic events in his life.
Where Mankell differs from and exceeds a lot of detective/mystery writers is precisely in the above mentioned ability to flesh out and establish his characters and not the least important---the surroundings and weather. In some ways he reminds us of P.D. James, another writer of this genre who is noted for being literary and descriptive.
With Wallander, you lived in his mind---most of the time you knew what he was thinking---or you were tipped off that he was playing mentally with a clue. This piqued your interest.
The thing about Wallander books is that Mankell made every detail--- going to the market, getting a cup of coffee, driving to a crime scene, deciding to walk to work, watching a cold Swedish norther through his apartment window, doing his laundry, trying to whip up a snack, and his general mental processes---as interesting as the more dramatic events in his life.
Where Mankell differs from and exceeds a lot of detective/mystery writers is precisely in the above mentioned ability to flesh out and establish his characters and not the least important---the surroundings and weather. In some ways he reminds us of P.D. James, another writer of this genre who is noted for being literary and descriptive.
With Wallander, you lived in his mind---most of the time you knew what he was thinking---or you were tipped off that he was playing mentally with a clue. This piqued your interest.
You were there in Ystad, Sweden, his town, when a storm was coming up, and the street light pole outside his apartment window began to sway a little, and that dratted old tree branch was starting to blow and scrape his building again. You, the reader, on reading that Ystad was expecting minus 10 Centigrade weather, would go out to your backyard thermometer and check your Fahrenheit/Centigrade thermo, doing some quick calculation to see how cold that really was.
As mentioned, he sometimes had to borrow a gun from a citizen, having left his locked in his office safe. (European cops' attitude toward firearms might seem a little bit naive to American cops.) His car gave him constant problems and he was always figuring out how he might trade it in and finance a replacement.
In a long book, the hero's name must be mentioned dozens and dozens of crimes. Mankell has come up with a great name: Wallander. You never notice it; it rolls right off the tongue.
The whole world appreciates Henning Mankell and his contributions to literature and drama. He has won many awards and is published in many countries. Our hats are off to him!
And, GOODBYE, DEAR WALLANDER, We already miss you!
----------30-----------
By Mil, 4/10/12
Sent from my iPad
And, GOODBYE, DEAR WALLANDER, We already miss you!
----------30-----------
By Mil, 4/10/12
Sent from my iPad
No comments:
Post a Comment