Lagerkvist

[chrisvosje]

I've just read 'The Dwarf' in a Dutch translation ('De dwerg'), the original title is 'Dvärgen'. Apparently Lagerkvist won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1951, this book was written in 1944. It is said to be one of his best, but I don't know since I haven't read anything else by him.

It's set in Renaissance Italy. The dwarf is one of the most important members of the court (but always in the background), and he writes down what happens around him. Sometimes he doesn't completely understand what's going on, but he always remains convinced of his own superiority over human kind (he believes dwarves stem from an older and superior race). There are some magnificent pages about battles, but the best parts are those in which he speaks about those strange creatures called people. He despises everything and everyone (well, almost everyone - not his king and not a great warrior), and his hate is wonderfully described. The book is full of references to Renaissance culture (especially art, warfare, and Machiavellist politics), but Lagerkvist managed to make them just part of the story - great when you recognize them, but if you miss them, it doesn't hinder the story (I must have missed a lot of them, but the very fact that I'm not sure makes clear they're brilliantly integrated in the story).

I once bought this book in some second hand store, but I can't really remember why - probably because of the Renaissance setting. Lagerkvist is quite unknown here - I never heard of him before anyway - so I was wondering: has anyone read anything else by Pär Lagerkvist that is good?

[Martin]

Hi crisvosje,

I just stumbled across this forum and saw your post about the author that grew up only a hop, skip and a jump away from where I live. Lagerkvist's investigation of evil "Dvärgen" is arguably one of his two masterpieces. Although the setting is Renaissance Italy and a machiavellian pricipality, there are quite a few intentional parallells to the nazi regime of the time. The other materspiece would be "Barabbas", for which Lagerkvist was honoured the Nobel Prize. With exception for Strindberg's works I'd say Barabbas is the best Swedish novel ever written. You could also look for "Bödeln" (The Hangman) and the short stories in "Onda sagor" (Evil Tales).

Best regards,
Martin

[chrisvosje]

thanks. I know what to look for next time in the library. :)

[AbdoRinbo]

Sounds interesting. I only speak English and a smattering of French (excuse me, I know that sounds trite), but perhaps there is an English translation out there somewhere and, if he is one of those authors that generally avoids using a lot of useless verbiage, maybe I could pick up a French translation somewhere. Let me know, chris (or whoever that expert was).

[chrisvosje]

Well, I'm not the expert, that's for sure :D , but I am very certain that there is an English translation. When I had read it, I wanted to find out a bit more, and I got loads of links referring to "The Dwarf" or "Dwarf". I've had a look at amazon.com and it appears to be translated by Alexandra Dick (Noonday Press, 1998).
I like a lot of books with "useless verbiage", but this one is written in a clear, concise style. It's the kind of book that tricks you into thinking it's simple and easy to write like this.