The Laughing Policeman, The Laughing Policeman, 19681968

Coming Full Circle

Sweden in the Sweden in the 1960s1960s

1960’s: Economic boom and prosperity

Conservative beginning social-democratic end

Women entered the labor market

Educational reforms1967: (September)

Sweden changes from driving on the left side of the road to driving on the right (H-day).

1969: October: Olof Palme is elected prime minister in Sweden – a leap to the left

Olof Palme 1927-1986Olof Palme 1927-1986

Social-democratic politician

Prime minister1969-76, and 1982-86

Bourgeoisie backgroundAcademicFrom class-divided society

towards a society of freedom of choice, social security, and equality

Murdered in 1986 – still not solved

Maj Sjöwall & Maj Sjöwall & Per WahlööPer Wahlöö

Maj Sjöwall 1935. writer and journalist in Sweden. Per Wahlöö born in Göteborg in

1926. After finishing his studies in 1946 he worked as a journalist. Died in Stockholm on June 23, 1975.

Met in 1961 Books written at night after the

kids were in bed Carefully planned a series of 10

books Slow moving plot Police procedurals Read in order! Side stories

(family etc.)

The NovelsThe Novels

Socialist viewpointSocial democracy

inequality & crimePolitical events of the

timeCritique of capitalist

society, p. 272ScalpelExcellent role model Started the modern

crime series – with a social angle

The couple originally planned the series as a sequence of ten novels collectively titled The Story of a Crime. The novels revolve around a team of police investigators led by Martin Beck.

Roseanna (Roseanna, 1965) The Man Who Went Up in Smoke

(Mannen som gick upp i rök, 1966) The Man on the Balcony (Mannen

på balkongen, 1967) The Laughing Policeman (Den

skrattande polisen, 1968) (Edgar Award, Best Novel, 1971)

The Fire Engine That Disappeared (Brandbilen som försvann, 1969)

Murder at the Savoy (Polis, polis, potatismos!, 1970)

The Abominable Man (Den vedervärdige mannen från Säffle, 1971)

The Locked Room (Det slutna rummet, 1972)

Cop Killer (Polismördaren, 1974) The Terrorists (Terroristerna,

1975)

SummarySummary

Vietnam war demonstrations on peaceful night in Stockholm Mass murder in a bus; Martin Beck and Kollberg, homicide squad

policemen, are called in Gunvald Larsson, detective inspector, 6’5”, 220 pounds Deteriorating marriage of Beck and wife Inga; daughter Ingrid, son

Rolf Kollberg happily married to younger woman, Gun, one baby Dislike of journalists Åke Stenström, detective sub-inspector on homicide squad is

among the 9 people killed (one victim dies later) No clues, no motive The police procedural: talk to all relatives of the people killed,

including Åsa Torell, girlfriend of Stenström Sexual photos of Åsa in Stenström’s desk Ullholm as an example of the bureacratic moron Identification of weapon – still no real clue

Summary 2Summary 2

Trivialities – Månsson needs flavored toothpicks!Tedious police work talking to all related peopleFinally, Stenström’s ability to shadow is

highlighted (147)Nordin, a policeofficer from the north, talks to

Blonde MalinKollberg visits Åsa who tells him about a new

investigation Stenström was conducting on his own – into a 16-year-old murder

Åsa goes home with KollbergNordin gets a name for the ”man without a face”:

Niels Erik Göransson (185) – a clueBeck on the right track (199)The Teresa Murder 16 years ago: nymfomaniac,

vehicle mix-up, never solved, alibis,

The Cars!The Cars!

Renault CV-4

Morris Minor

Summary 3Summary 3

Beck and Kollberg follow in the footsteps of Stenström He was on the verge of solving the crime Detective Rönn finds out whom the shooter looked like Christmas present: The Laughing Policeman Melander with photographic memory remembers the

connection between Göransson and the Teresa murder Göransson always had money – paper slip with the initials

B.F. Björn Forsberg BF slept with Teresa, she stalked him, he killed her,

Göransson blackmailed him, and then BF killed both Göransson and Stenström who was shadowing Göransson

Becka nd Kollberg confront BF at his office BF tries to commit suicide, but Martin Beck has emptied

the gun Forsberg confesses - end of case

The Laughing PolicemanThe Laughing Policeman

StructureStyle of writingCharacters:

◦Martin Beck◦Lennart Kollberg◦Gustav Larsson◦Frederik Melander◦Åke Stenström◦Åsa Torell

Martin BeckMartin Beck

Another “everyman”No real lifeNo real familyCompanions at workDrudgery23 years as a policeman

Kurt WallanderKonrad SejerErlendurAnnika Bengtzon – male / female

The Laughing PolicemanThe Laughing Policeman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9u5zqKvC7E

ThemesThemes

Mass MurderOld Unsolved crimesHiding as a long-term criminal / serendipitous

discoveryThe “underworld”Frustrated at one’s jobSexWomen’s rolesLaughter – anything to laugh about?P. 272