Archipelago History

Here are some links you may want to visit before coming to Stockholm:

Stockholm Archipelago wikipedia entry

Website of the Archipelago Foundation

The Archipelago War of 1719 against the Russians (in Swedish - just google translate)

The archipelago is also very important is counter-cultural environmental issues (in Swedish only, sorry)

Archipelago in popular culture - the now cult series Vi på Saltkråkan and the super cheesy Archipelago Doctor

And more about Strindberg's classic:

He came as a blizzard on April 1 evening and had a Höganäs jars in an austerity of his neck ...

So begins a more than well-known book called "Hemsöborna", written by one of Sweden's greatest author, August Strindberg. This classic work of the archipelago naturalism puts its mark on everyone who dares to wade through several pages of burlesque jokes, dramatic events and Swedish folk antics. It is therefore with some pride that it takes to read this book, and be able to share with the impression that the book set etched in the reader's inner fantasies. "Hemsöborna" begins by Carlsson, a Landbo from Värmland, try their luck at a old widow, Madame River, in the archipelago's restricted environments. From the outset it becomes clear to the reader, that this story will be lined with both laughter and joy, of tears and suffering. Carlsson, the fact has attempted the freedom to fix up the widow's estate and ensure that the fields will be on its feet. The perilous neglect of otherwise very fine soil, is the son of the farm in debt to. This boy named Tim, took after his father and focused all of its main tasks of hunting and fishing. Thus, the cows lost weight and weeds started to get the upper hand in the fields. Until Carlsson enjoyable step into the picture and appoints himself to the top rooster in the yard, for now it will become second buns! So continues the saga of this farm and all incidents which progresses in its path.

The old widow, starts keeping the Carlsson more than friendly, and with a son who remains bitter and sour to see his place taken by a Landbo, a pastor who finds brännvinskruset holier than God himself, a crazy old man who cooks the most part but the super- more, a German professor who "fiiser" rather than freeze in winter and a young lady from the Stockholm area who finds the proud Carlsson interesting on more than one point of view - well, then you can calculate yourself that this can only end in laughter and tears . In order to be "Hemsöborna" best described, an entertaining, beloved by the people, strong archipelago colored dramatization of how life might appear on a small farm, which seemingly could be any other farm any time, but where there is more life in the gap than you only can imagine. Strindberg marks in this book, his naturalistic approach, long, developed and detailed environmental descriptions surrounds the paragraphs in the chapters, which mainly deals with the meeting between individuals and events. The book focuses largely on the interaction, socialization, between people, both socially and theoretical contemplation. This allows the reader a very clear picture of what is constantly going on in the thoughts of the main characters in the book. However, as pointed out above, leaves händelseförloppens descriptions and then place the natural depictions of the most beautiful and potential impact: The morning was now the end of July dazzlingly clear, the sky was blue as skimmed milk and islands, islets, skerries, islets, rocks lay so softly melting into the water, so that one could not say if they belonged to the earth nor heaven.

On the next landward stood spruces and alders, and in uddarne lay horror, black, foisting and gulls; further out seemed only dwarf pines, and guillemots, razorbills, black, papegojslika, swarmed brazenly around the boat in order to mislead the hunter from the hill and mountain crevices hidden nests; finally became less blades, naked, and here there seemed only a single pine tree left behind to carry the nest, in which ducks and cormorant were estimated for eggs, or a mountain ash, over the crown of a cloud of mosquitoes swaying in the wind. Outside was shining sea, where the labs held its predatory hunting in feud with terns, gulls and where the sea eagle seemed to control his tongue, dull flight to possibly resort to lying ådfågel. "Hemsöborna" is filled with rich and detailed noticeable natural scenes, where the archipelago birds and islets fused with weddings, folk dancing and fishing. Even better, perhaps due to the fact that they are given the highest place in the book, is the real human stories, in which local cultural clashes to cause trouble, love and lies. Strindberg painting in this book up a variety of characters who carry the special and distinctive feature. These personalities are constantly in conflict and sway with each other, where the only consolation and interconnecting device turns out to be vodka bottle (or "hourglass", as they say out in the archipelago) virtues and ability to sleep and let the memories pass away into oblivion with the wind.

Even about the book with the vast majority of readers will bring a series of laughs and pleasures of intrigue and personal meetings that constantly occur on the island, "Hemsöborna" Basically, no comedy. No, far from it. Much of the depicted leads ultimately to tragedy, sorrow and even death. All events in the book refers to popular entertainment, while the fun begins at sunrise, but quickly stop when the snow blanket spread out over the winter period. This book rocks slowly between sorrow and joy, and that's including the dynamics of the presentation, which makes "Hemsöborna" to a work that strongly affects the reader and make him empathize with the individuals' feelings and innermost thoughts. In "Hemsöborna" is nothing intimate, too embarrassing, for the obscure - all presented in the coarse-grained, folk and vintage Swedish at the finest level.

As a beginner to Strindberg's incomparable literary career, is "Hemsöborna" an excellent start. The book is light-minded, outspoken, attractive, amusing - well, at all amusing. It breaks no literary boundaries, it is not based on the controversial revelations and macabre antics, but serve only to a moment entertain and amuse the reader. The typical island language is preserved in its realistic form, a full voting of skärgårdsord are interspersed here and there in the text, color book and give it its true character. Nothing is wasted - everything is material to further enhance and emphasize the book's events, meetings, intrigue and natural scenes. That is why the man with great pleasure and attention should read this book. It is an important part not only of Strindberg's literary range, but above all the typical Swedish folk custom and culture, where agriculture, vodka, young maids and felstämda violins is their rightful destiny.