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The Laughing Policeman, 1968

The Laughing Policeman, 1968. Coming Full Circle. 1960’s: Economic boom and prosperity Conservative beginning  social-democratic end Women entered the labor market Educational reforms

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The Laughing Policeman, 1968

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  1. The Laughing Policeman, 1968 Coming Full Circle

  2. 1960’s: Economic boom and prosperity • Conservative beginning  social-democratic end • Women entered the labor market • Educational reforms • 1967: (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 Sweden in the 1960s

  3. Social-democratic politician • Prime minister1969-76, and 1982-86 • Bourgeoisie background • Academic • From class-divided society towards a society of freedom of choice, social security, and equality • Murdered in 1986 – still not solved Olof Palme 1927-1986

  4. 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.) MajSjöwall & Per Wahlöö

  5. Socialist viewpoint • Social democracy  inequality & crime • Political events of the time • Critique of capitalist society, p. 272 • Scalpel • Excellent 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 (Mannensomgickuppirök, 1966) • The Man on the Balcony (Mannenpåbalkongen, 1967) • The Laughing Policeman (Den skrattandepolisen, 1968) (Edgar Award, Best Novel, 1971) • The Fire Engine That Disappeared (Brandbilensomförsvann, 1969) • Murder at the Savoy (Polis, polis, potatismos!, 1970) • The Abominable Man (Den vedervärdige mannen från Säffle, 1971) • The Locked Room (Detslutnarummet, 1972) • Cop Killer (Polismördaren, 1974) • The Terrorists (Terroristerna, 1975) The Novels

  6. 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

  7. Trivialities – Månsson needs flavored toothpicks! • Tedious police work talking to all related people • Finally, Stenström’s ability to shadow is highlighted (147) • Nordin, a policeofficer from the north, talks to Blonde Malin • Kollberg 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 Kollberg • Nordin gets a name for the ”man without a face”: Niels Erik Göransson (185) – a clue • Beck on the right track (199) • The Teresa Murder 16 years ago: nymfomaniac, vehicle mix-up, never solved, alibis, Summary 2

  8. Renault CV-4 Morris Minor The Cars!

  9. 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 Summary 3

  10. Structure • Style of writing • Characters: • Martin Beck • Lennart Kollberg • Gustav Larsson • Frederik Melander • Åke Stenström • Åsa Torell The Laughing Policeman

  11. Another “everyman” • No real life • No real family • Companions at work • Drudgery • 23 years as a policeman • Kurt Wallander • KonradSejer • Erlendur • AnnikaBengtzon – male / female Martin Beck

  12. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9u5zqKvC7E The Laughing Policeman

  13. Mass Murder • Old Unsolved crimes • Hiding as a long-term criminal / serendipitous discovery • The “underworld” • Frustrated at one’s job • Sex • Women’s roles • Laughter – anything to laugh about? • P. 272 Themes

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