Title: Mina drömmars stad
Author: Per Anders Fogelström
First published January 1, 1960
289 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9789100123758 (ISBN10: 9100123757)
Rating: 4.05
Overview
En sommarkväll i 1920-talets Stockholm anländer Henning Nilsson till den stad han alltid drömt om. Men trots stadens tillväxt och utveckling är livet fortfarande en kamp för Henning och hans hustru Lotten.
Tillsammans kämpar de för att bygga upp en bättre tillvaro och skapa ett hem där deras drömmar kan få plats. Följ med på en resa genom Stockholms historia och upplev människornas kamp för överlevnad och lycka i en tid av förändring.
About the Author
Per Anders Fogelström was a renowned figure in Swedish literature, spending his entire life in Stockholm. One of his most famous works is a series of novels set in the city he held close to his heart.
Ingmar Bergman’s groundbreaking film “Summer with Monika” was based on Fogelström’s novel of the same name, which was published in 1951.
Fogelström authored over 40 books and also served as the director of the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society from 1963 to 1977. In 1976, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Stockholm University.
To honor his legacy, a bust of Fogelström was unveiled in Stockholm City Hall on the day he passed away, June 23, 1998.
Editoral Review
Per Anders Fogelström’s Mina Drömmars Stad (City of My Dreams) is a masterpiece of Swedish literature that immerses readers in the lives of ordinary Stockholm citizens during the first half of the twentieth century. Published in 1960, this novel has since become a classic of Swedish literature, garnering acclaim for its brilliant storytelling and historical context.
Fogelström, a prolific author, historian, and journalist, has crafted a work that stands the test of time, resonating with readers up to this day. The novel focuses on the story of Henning Nilsson, who grows up in the slums of Stockholm and eventually becomes a successful journalist.
He is the son of a drunken father and a mother who dies young, leaving him in a life of poverty. With great narrative skill, Fogelström illuminates the vast social changes that Sweden experiences during the first decades of the twentieth century, from the rise of radical socialism to the impact of the two world wars.
The novel spans almost fifty years, from the turn of the century until the 1950s, as Hinning navigates the rapidly changing economic and social landscape of his city. Fogelström paints a full picture of Stockholm in its various stages of development, making it a character itself within the novel.
The city is characterized by its class divisions, its abandoned buildings and contrasting world of luxury, and its various forms of government corruption. The book is a testament to Fogelström’s ability to evoke a sense of place that takes readers to the heart of what it means to be Swedish.
The novel’s characters are layered and complex, and Fogelström explores their contradictions with stinging critique without ever sacrificing empathy. He tackles the thorny issue of domestic violence, depicting how it destroys the lives of those affected by it.
Through the female characters in the novel, Fogelström offers insight into the challenges that women face due to patriarchy and class. While Mina Drömmars Stad has so much to offer, it’s pacing could have been better.
Fogelström’s writing changes pace as the novel progresses, moving from a slow-burning, descriptive mode to a more punchy style that can be hard to keep up with. The novel’s length may be intimidating to some readers, yet, it is a testament to the author’s craft that it never loses its grip on the reader.
In conclusion, Mina Drömmars Stad is a must-read for anyone interested in literature, social history, and the legacy of Swedish culture. Fogelström masterfully creates a link between the era he wrote and contemporary times, making for a uniquely relevant book.
For anyone wishing to understand the history of Stockholm, the book should be considered required reading. It is a mesmerizing, heart-wrenching, and ambitious work that deserves all the attention and fame it has garnered since its publication.
On a scale of five, I would give this work a solid four, with particular positive notes for character development, writing, and historical context. While the pacing could be better, the novel’s achievements cannot be understated.
