Stieg Larsson

English translation

What do you think of the English translation of the books in the Millennium-series?

Posted by Editor in Stockholm, Sweden , 17 November 2008

101 comments on “English translation”

  • Andres says:

    I have to agree here with what Hanna has written in here review. I have read the whole series in Swedish and the books are amazing. I recently purchased The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo for my wife her in the United States and I too thought that the translation of words was pathetic. My wife didn’t get past page 15 before she asked me what “gaol” meant. How does “jail” become “gaol”.

    Doesn’t any one proof read the translation before the book goes to print??? I am finding errors that are so elementary, and it really makes bothers me too. A college professor would have failed a student committing errors of this magnitude. This really is an injustice to the book.

    Posted by Andres ,


  • Martin says:

    Just found out about these books and read all 3 in one week (in Swedish). I just surfed to see if there will be films, because they would adapt well. I’m wondering though, how these translate? As I have an apartment in Södermalm and know all of the streets and shops he mentions it is all very familiar, but the fact that SL uses so many such references might be lost on other readers and just seem confusing. I’m glad I read Swedish, because “Castles in the sky” is a terrible translation of the original title :-)

    Posted by Martin ,


  • Strumpet in Denver says:

    I completely agree with the comments about the English translation. It really is full of truly elementary mistakes.

    Posted by Strumpet in Denver, CO ,


  • Wiliam in Nashville says:

    i personally love the books and translation in it. yes there are a few mistakes. but that’s OK since it does not take away from the story line. there’s always going to be mess ups in translations, but as long as it gets the story across who cares!

    Posted by Wiliam in Nashville,TN ,


  • cataspanglish in Lleida says:

    I’ve read the first two books in Spanish and the translations are excellent (very unusual in Spain). I looked at the English version “The Girl…” and didn’t like the translation (I am a translator), however “gaol” is the correct British English word for “jail”. (I’m English BTW)

    Posted by cataspanglish in Lleida, Spain ,


  • paul schain in kitty hawk says:

    I read the first one in english and the last two in swedish . Yes, what a difference. Please get a new translater.

    The work is fabulous. I lived in Stockholm in the end of the 50th and beginning of the 60th. Great to be able to associate with many of the streets etc.

    What a loss that we will not be able to enjoy any more Salander & Blomquist.

    Posted by paul schain in kitty hawk, nc usa ,


  • Rebecca in Berlin (in Catalonia at present) says:

    Exactly, gaol is a perfectly acceptable word in British English, and no it´s not American we know that.

    Posted by Rebecca in Berlin (in Catalonia at present) ,


  • Aïcha in New York City says:

    I am currently the French translation of the books and it is very well done. (I am French.) I am close to the end of the second one at the moment. i’m learning Swedish at college right now but I certainly wouldn’t be able to read them in Swedish as of now. I find that French translations are usually quite good. I’m very excited to read the rest of these chronicles.

    Posted by Aïcha in New York City ,


  • David in Melbourne says:

    Jail is the dumbed down version Of Gaol to make it easier for Americans to spell!!

    Posted by David in Melbourne, Australia ,


  • Beth in Chicago says:

    I can’t say I minded the translation at all. I would imagine that any translation is bound to have some clunky parts, but I would also hope that we Americans have enough intelligence to figure out British English. Overall, good translation and I can’t wait to get a hold of the second book!

    Posted by Beth in Chicago, IL ,


  • Laurie in Missoula says:

    I am reading the first book and am impressed with how well it is translated. It can no be easy to translate and continue to keep the story intact and as awesome as this one. Hats off to the translator Keeland!

    Posted by Laurie in Missoula, MT ,


  • Pernille in London says:

    I am not impressed by this translation. Sometimes I struggle to understand the English sentence, but it helpes to translate each individual word into Swedish. Some sayings have perfectly fine equivolents in English but instead of considering the context, the translator has translated each word. I can imagine how people who do not understand Swedish might struggle.

    Posted by Pernille in London ,


  • susan in cleveland heights says:

    Just finished “The Girl . . . ” and had no problem with the English translation. Can’t wait to start the second book. I agree, too, would/will make a fantastic film . . . in the right hands.

    Posted by susan in cleveland heights, OH ,


  • jimblevins in Cleveland Heights says:

    The English translation is BRITISH English (so far) gaol=jail etc.

    Posted by jimblevins in Cleveland Heights ,


  • Sheila in Edinburgh says:

    I have just read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in English and loved the book. There are a few parts that could be a bit better in the translation but it in no way detracted from a very good read. I watched the Wallander series because I also love Henning Mankel books and hope the same might happen with the Millennium trilogy.

    Posted by Sheila in Edinburgh, Scotland ,


  • Di in Exeter says:

    I agree with Sheila above. I have just finished The Girl Who Played With Fire, and not being able to compare with the Swedish original, I must say I think it is a terrific book. It does not matter that I am not familiar with the places. Just an amazing series. I cannot wait for the third one to come out in the English translation. Hurry please.

    Posted by Di in Exeter, UK ,


  • new lasson fan in Iowa says:

    I think the English translation was pretty good. I didn’t read the book, instead, I was listening to the audio book version narrated by Simon Vance, who also did a wonderful job. To be fair, to can you expect a translated version better than the original language?

    Posted by new lasson fan in Iowa, US. ,


  • Linda in Tampa says:

    Play nice, David in Melbourne. Americans who read know what a gaol is and enjoy a good story as well as anyone anywhere else in the world. Many of us are also sensitive to the issues discussed in the book regardless of our countries’ reputation.

    Posted by Linda in Tampa, USA ,


  • The Viscount in Northants says:

    I have just finished listening to the excellent (but abridged) Fire audiobook read in English by Martin Wenner. He does a super job and thankfully uses the correct Swedish pronunciation for Swedish names and places, as well as convincing voices for all the characters. Salander is given a somewhat Cockney accent which is entirely appropriate under the circumstances of having to find an English voice for a Swedish character. As a frequent visitor to Sweden, it was a delight to hear so many familiar place names. I listened to the first and second books in my car and found myself driving to work more slowly just so I could hear more of the story each day. Can’t wait for the third volume…

    Posted by The Viscount in Northants, England ,


  • Rosie in Brighton says:

    I finished the first book but this one was in Dutch, called Mannen die vrouwen haten. The translation was very good and it was very enjoyable to read the books. I bought the two other books in Schiphol airport and look forward reading them in the near future

    Posted by Rosie in Brighton, UK ,


  • Ivor in Brussels says:

    I’m a translator of Swedish who has only read ‘Dragon Tattoo’ in English. A cracking read (can’t wait for the other two, and I’ll try to read them all in Swedish sometime), and I thought the translation read well, but off the top of my head: St Albans is not a suburb of London, why leave ‘tunnelbana’ in Swedish, and when Lisbeth sees an inter-continental roar past on the E4, what on earth is she looking at?!!

    Posted by Ivor in Brussels ,


    • ChrisinNH says:

      I think what the author was getting at was a reference back to the LAST time Lisbeth saw a truck on the E4 - and that was when Martin drove his car full speed into one. So seeing the “intercontinental” is probably a trigger, and it brings her back to that moment - and probably rattles her. And I imagine the intention was to rattle some perspective into the reader as well. Thoughts?


  • Reg Keeland in Albuquerque says:

    Hi Beth in Chicago and Laurie in Missoula, and thanks for the compliments! Ivor, glad you liked my translation — please don’t blame me for the occasional weird British term, I translated the books into American English! Good thing I did leave “tunnelbana” — if I’d said “subway” I’m sure it would have been changed to “tube”. And Lisbeth’s term for Mikael is “Kalle F—ing Blomkvist”, not “Kalle Bastard Blomkvist”, for God’s sake. Stieg had an obvious fondness for U.S. English and used lots of American phrases in the book (now invisible when not surrounded by Swedish), so the present version does sound to me like a different book — still good, but not quite the same as I experienced it in my head. I’m guessing an inter-continental is a big rig, a honkin’ 18-wheeler on the E4 freeway. Sorry the Americans have to wait the longest to read books 2 and 3, but they were slow on the uptake and the Brits beat ‘em to it. Check out my blog for more info on Stieg and the books and translating in general.

    Posted by Reg Keeland in Albuquerque ,


    • Susan S. says:

      Hi, Reg! Thank You so much for translating The Millenium Trilogy into English: I can’t imagine how difficult this must have been and what a length of time this must have taken. I am grateful to you, though, because I am enjoying them tremendously. My Swedish friend who gave the three books to me said I wouldn’t be able to put them down, and she was so right!!! I have just two minor questions. What do the Roman numerals underneath the chapter numbers/titles mean? Also, periodically I will see an asterisk but am unable to find the corresponding reference point. They aren’t “biggies” In the whole scheme of things, but I want to make sure I’m not missing anything. Thanks so much again!!


  • Henry Moon in Paris says:

    As a translator myself (I spent last week on “Horreur Boréale”, a French documentary on the trilogy), I’ve read the first two in English, the first in French and I’m looking for the third in French as I type. Sold out locally. Steven, you did a great job. I’d have been horrified to see ‘tunnelbana’ as ‘tube’, and in general I prefer a translation that leaves as many original references as possible, couched in enough context to be obvious. I’ll be needing them all when I visit Stockholm later in the year… Keep up the good work!

    Posted by Henry Moon in Paris ,


  • Alison Gonzalez in St. Louis says:

    I just finished the first book, and I thought it one of the best I have read

    in eons. I am sad that Stieg died so young – how many more great books might he have written? We Americans are not dolts, and we can figure out tunnelbana and gaol, but I wondered about the intercontinental. I look forward to reading the other 2 books.

    Posted by Alison Gonzalez in St. Louis ,


  • Natasja Mejdal in Denmark says:

    loved the books, haven’t read them in english though… i have been wondering about the title translations… why not just call the first book “Men who hates women”?? personally i love the title, and i think a few things have been lost with the changing title…

    Posted by Natasja Mejdal in Denmark, Fredericia ,


  • Ivor Bloor in Brussels says:

    Hi Reg: It’s a pity books aren’t edited for the US and UK markets (‘two countries divided by a common language’) any more. If Blomkvist had worn braces on his trousers, that might have been translated as suspenders, then we’d have thought he was a cross-dresser! Inter-continental was just too obscure: long-distance lorry, truck-trailer, maybe (juggernaut or articulated lorry for us oldies!). Cultural references are a minefield. They very rarely crop up in my work as a technical translator in the public (civil) service sector.

    I agree about ‘Men who hate women’. It’s fundamental to Lisbeth’s motivation in the trilogy (her father, Bjurman, etc.), but it’s just not sexy enough to sell the book, is it? Kicking the hornet’s nest is OK by me: she is, after all, opening up a can of worms. And when hornets sting…

    I’m about to read the third book in Swedish. Sorry Reg, I just can’t wait!

    Posted by Ivor Bloor in Brussels ,


  • castilho in São Paulo says:

    In Brazil, the first book was translated from the french language and not from Swedish. In my opinion, in that way readers loose twice. So, I decided to read in English. The tittle in Portuguese is the same of the French: ‘the man who didn’t love women’. For me, the English translation it was OK. With a dictionary English-Portuguese very close….

    Posted by castilho in São Paulo ,


  • leanne in ireland says:

    loved the books

    but could some one tell me what “herr” and “froken” are? like mr and miss or somethinh right?

    Posted by leanne in ireland ,


  • castilho in são paulo says:

    I suppose, Leanne, ‘herr’ means ‘mister’ in German and ‘froken’ (like fraulein) means ‘miss’ in Swedish.

    Posted by castilho in são paulo , 24 mars 2009


  • Delph in Cardiff says:

    Does anyone know why the English version of the 3rd Millennium book is taking so long to be published when it has already been translated in so many other languages? So unfair to have to wait. I am tempted to order it in French since I am a French person living in the UK but I read that the French translation is appalling. Any advice?

    Posted by Delph in Cardiff, UK ,


  • Karen in Brittany says:

    Don’t agree with you Delph. I first read all three in French and was totally hooked from the start. Didn’t find much to quibble about re translation but “Traduire c’est trahir”. Even the best translation leaves something to be desired if you have read the original. Have just finished volume 2 of the English version and am dying to get hold of the third and, like Delph, can’t understand why this is taking so long to be published. Shall have to read it in French again while waiting.

    Posted by Karen in Brittany, France ,


  • Walter in Sydney says:

    I thought the translation into English was fantastic. I second this: “Steven, you did a great job. I’d have been horrified to see ‘tunnelbana’ as ‘tube’, and in general I prefer a translation that leaves as many original references as possible, couched in enough context to be obvious”.

    God, some people whinge a lot. Re the use of “Herr” and “Froken” etc: Use your brain! Buy a dictionary! I think the use of the original references gives the book (in the english translation) a real feeling of being there.

    Posted by Walter in Sydney, Australia ,


  • Elizabeth in Auckland says:

    I found the translation of t his book made it dry and a bit boring. I’d like to think that it was the translation – but to be honest, I find it difficult to understand why this book has been such a success.

    Posted by Elizabeth in Auckland, NZ ,


  • Pamela in Puerto Vallarta says:

    Wow, Elizabeth in Auckland, you’re the first person to share my puzzlement! Admittedly, I’m only a fifth of the way into the first book, but I just don’t get the excitement. I was anticipating being hooked from the beginning, and keep waiting… I have wondered if the translation was a problem, as the style seems a bit wooden and reporterlike, but of course Larsson was a journalist. I’m now looking for the Spanish translation to see if that helps. We don’t get a lot of good new books here in English, so it’s been disappointing not to respond to this much-ballyhooed novel. I’ll write again if it catches fire for me…

    Posted by Pamela in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico ,


  • Tonii in Peterborough says:

    I really enjoyed the English translations of the books, but I have to point out to some reviewers that there is no such thing as British English. There is English, that we in Britain speak, and then a dialect spoken in America called American English. So yeah, maybe there should be a version for Britain and for America, but the wording is generally correct for the original language.

    Posted by Tonii in Peterborough, England. ,


  • H. van Raan in New York says:

    I just finished reading the first two books. In fact was so taken by the first I ordered the second from the UK, so far has not made it to the US. I usually don’t like books that are translated but found this one teriffic. What a great read and I do know what a gaol is….and liked that not all words were literally translated. I finished the second book in one weekend and liked it better than the first.

    Posted by H. van Raan in New York, New York ,


  • D. Witten in Columbia says:

    I just finished “Dragon Tattoo” and loved it. As I read I thought about the the translation, and a bit about translations in general. I should say that I am a fairly typical reader living in the heart of the heart of darkness in rural Missouri. I speak no languages other than English (or what passes for English in these parts). I have never visited Northern Europe or England. Though my eye caught on most of the phrases others have mentioned, I knew perfectly well what a gaol is and could make a comfortable guess at most everything else. The Kindle’s dictionary is handy, too.

    As I don’t read Swedish, I can’t guess at how well the translation compares to the original. Though the language is not perfect, my guess was that this is a better than average translation. It read much better than many novels by American authors.

    I did have a couple of small problems, however. Many (all ?) of the distances referred to in the translation were in ‘yards’ and temperatures were in Fahrenheit units. I doubt this was the case in the original. I did learn metric units from the third grade on, a hard time avoiding the feeling that I am being condescended to with this kind of ‘americanization’ of a text. I suppose that it is inevitable.

    My other quibble is that I found one sentence late in the story referring to the quality of Mikeal’s book painful: “It was uneven stylistically, and in places the writing was actually rather poor – there had been no time for any polishing – but the book was animated by a fury that no reader could help but notice.” And ironic. Where is an editor when you *need* one?

    Overall, I really enjoyed the book, and the translation served me well.

    Posted by D. Witten in Columbia, Missouri ,


  • Jacquelyn in Singapore says:

    Hi to all lucky you out there who have the advantage and choice of translation. Unfortunately for me, English is the only language for me, so I probably have to make it. But hey, I guess ignorance is bliss.S ince I can’t compare between versions, the “lapses” in tranlsation doesn’t show up for me. Anyway, the story is great and I just got my hands on “The girl who played with fire”. Too bad I have to wait till 2010 for book 3, unless I master Swedish before that!

    Posted by Jacquelyn in Singapore ,


  • Elaine B in New York City says:

    Just finished “The Girl with……..” and found it a very exciting work. I will read the other two in the trilogy as soon as I can get my hands on them.I think the criticism of the translation is picayune. What literate American does not know what “goal” is ?

    Posted by Elaine B in New York City ,


  • mike pritchard in barcelona says:

    So Reg Keeland translated the book into American English? Since when do Americans ‘repair to Spain’? (page 121); Do they still say ‘forsooth’? (page 124); Does “dark” fall there, whereas in the UK “darkness” falls, or “night falls”? (page 134); Do people in the US see the following as normal “even as he reached for the door handle?” (page 138); I suggest that “just as he reached” would be a better translation. And please tell me what a “brutal domestic” is (page 80)? Here’s the context: “Worse than their straitened circumstances, Richard was a brutal domestic. He beat his wife and abused his son.”

    “Sawn out” is the correct past participle form in UK English; Keeland uses “sawed out” on page 84, as a passive. Is this OK in US English?

    Page 13 has an interesting expression: “They had their first quarrel, then others, and anon the antagonism turned personal”. “Anon”?

    Somewhere in this book (I don’t remember the page; all other references are to my MacLehose 2008 edition.) Keeland writes “alight”, as in get off a train. Is this modern US usage?

    Keeland was not the best translator of Mankell’s books and it’s a pity that a better translator couldn’t be found for the Millenium Trilogy. Everyone agrees that translation is not easy, but some of these mistakes (I could offer more examples) reek of sloppiness.

    Posted by mike pritchard in barcelona ,


  • Jocelyne Charest in Quebec City says:

    I was wondering if I should buy my books in English or in French and then thanks to all of you, I was able to make up my mind: I will buy them in French! And it is a big plus because, believe or not, the French books came out first, which I find pretty amazing because most of the time, it’s the other way around…

    Posted by Jocelyne Charest in Quebec City ,


  • Myriam in Paris says:

    Hello, I read the three books in French but I can speak English too, and I think it is a shame that “Men who hated Women” was translated into something as noncommittal as”the Girl With a Dragon Tattoo”. Worse, what is the excuse to that? “It wasn’t sexy enough”? I hope it is just a joke, because obviously, Stieg Larsson took pain to write pages and pages of undeniable fun but with a very direct, plain feminist message, and that the translators (or more likely, the businessMEN behind the publishing of the English version) would over look it this way.

    Posted by Myriam in Paris ,


  • John Mitchell in Dorking says:

    ‘Noisome’ (p. 8 of ‘The girl who played with fire) does not mean ‘noisy’!

    Posted by John Mitchell in Dorking ,


  • Scott in Houston says:

    The book was great. There are some Swedish phrases that are lost on me but it made perfect sense but have no point of reference. Can’t wait for the 2nd installment to hit US book stores

    Posted by Scott in Houston, TX ,


  • Daniela in Turin says:

    I agree with everybody, the translation in English is full of mistakes and I was so amazed by this so I decided to read the other two volumes in Italian that is my mother-tongue and they are better I have to say! I’m used to reading in English because I like it and I’m an English teacher so it is useful for me but not this time!

    Posted by Daniela in Turin ,


  • mike pritchard in Barcelona says:

    There is a controversy in the Spanish press at the moment over the titles (some say they were copied from the French) and also over the translation into Catalan (some say the Catalan versions of the books are translations from the French translations, not from the original language). Anybody really know anything about this?

    Posted by mike pritchard in Barcelona ,


  • Kulanamsn in Cambridge says:

    I’ve read the first two of Stieg’s Millenium series and I think that they are just fine. Some folks complain about the translation but they were translated into English and not ‘American English’ thus ‘jail’ is properly translated as ‘gaol’. Stop whingeing and enjoy!

    Posted by Kulanamsn in Cambridge ,


  • Anoud Al muhairi in dubai says:

    It was good, and i mite b only sayin this cuz i never did and never will read it in swedish.

    Posted by Anoud Al muhairi in dubai, uae ,


  • Paola Díaz in Brussels says:

    Well, english is my second language (spanish is the first) and amazingly i found TGWTDT quite easy to read. Yes, gaol was an unusual word to me too but nothing to worry about. I’d found “strange” words even in my native language, so, I didn’t mind. I’m glad that I was able to read it, to understand every single sentence and made sense of every piece of it. Now i want to go to Sweden and make a tour around Hedeby island. Of course, in summer time! I live in Belgium and wondering if here are we gonna be able to find the movie with subtitles in english.

    Posted by Paola Díaz in Brussels, Belgium ,


  • Bev Dibble in Tauranga says:

    I bought the TGWTDT to read on the plane to UK and ordered the second in the series from Amazon the week after I arrived. I thought the translation was brilliant. Have read books that have been ruined in translation. The style was quite different to anything I have read before and I really liked it. Hope to see film/dvd with English subtitles here in New Zealand early next year.

    Posted by Bev Dibble in Tauranga ,


  • Judith in Urbana says:

    Sorry to be a curmudgeon, but it’s amazing to me how many people criticizing the translation either can’t spell or write so ungrammatically.

    If Reg Keeland lives in Albuquerque I presume he’s American, yet he seems able to switch back and forth between English & American versions thereof. A Brit who’s lived in the US for decades, I know no Swedish yet was completely absorbed by both of the translated books out so far.

    Stieg Larsson must have been a remarkable person. I look forward to the third and last in the series, however it’s translated.

    Posted by Judith in Urbana, Illinois ,


  • Lindsey in USA (today says:

    Here! Here! I agree with Judith! The translation added spark and an interesting quirkiness to the story. Living in Europe as a foreigner made me realize that many, many people speak the way this book was translated. A dab of British here, American there, a little Swedish, and ein bischen Deutsch. It made me wish I was back living amongst people who appreciate diversity of language!

    Although the discussion is muy interesting, I am not sure why there is such negativity. The differences and similarities in language are what have inspired this conversation about an excellent triology by a great author. Long Live Language!

    Excellent books! Thank you to the late, great Stieg Larsson and to Reg Keeland for bringing the books my way.

    Posted by Lindsey in USA (today, maybe not tomorrow) ,


  • Shelle in Shores of lake erie says:

    to the person who carped about the use of the word “gaol” in place of jail…

    the word gaol is used, although it’s a bit archaic, in many parts if the world, including england, which if i remember rightly is the firt home of the english language. i am no linguist so it may have had scandinavian origins as the vikings did visit england a few times and established homes there.

    i would suggest that sometimes this person should read a few works by authors who did not write in this century.

    as to whether it is, on the whole, a good translation, is not for me to say as i don’t speak swedish but something is ALWAYS lost in translation. nonetheless, it is a good book, even in english and i plan to read the rest of them ASAP, and order the movies as well.

    as to larrsons death, come on…it was just too timely for the shadowy forces he was fighting and writing about.

    Posted by Shelle in Shores of lake erie ,


  • Joëlle in Moss Vale NSW AUSTRALIA says:

    I just read the first book, in English. Why talk about miles and feet in the first half of the book, then talk kilometers later on? Most of the story goes into a hell of a lot of detail and as a reader I try to take all detail in (not to miss a clue probably). That’s probally why this translation bothered me.

    A few sentences just did not read pleasantly, although I understood the thought. Amazing also that characters get up on the hour and change activity on the hour… Besides that, I couldn’t stop reading and I feel empty now I’ve finished.

    Oh, and ‘Studs manager’ should be ‘Stud Manager’. Question: why record months in lower cast roman numerals? I didn’t get that one… Is that a Swedish thing?

    All the best!

    Posted by Joëlle in Moss Vale NSW AUSTRALIA ,


  • Charles Wilkes in San Jose says:

    I am a pure “American” but was an English Lit. major in college, and had no problems at all with the English translations. In fact I liked them very much. Of course we are trying to read Swedish in English, and have to expect that much of the original language will move over — all foreign languages do that in translations as it makes the resultant text much more believable. I have been to Sweden and loved the references to Stockholm that I learned to love during my several visits — wish I was back there again (in summer only!!!). And Americans should learn that we are but one country speaking basic English, and the U.K., Australia, Canada, and other English speaking countries have enriched our language beyond measure.

    Posted by Charles Wilkes in San Jose, Calif., USA ,


  • Jo in NC says:

    I have a question. Why does Blomkvist despise the nickname “Kalle”? What does it mean? I felt I was missing something with this.

    Posted by Jo in NC, USA ,


  • Lilla Gumman in Woking says:

    I’ve read the first book (Man som hatar kvinnor) in both Swedish and in English. My main complaint regards the name – Why on earth did the book have to be re-titled to “The girl etc….” I think it is a major flaw, the original title is excellent and captures the theme(s) of the story.

    Posted by Lilla Gumman in Woking ,


  • admin says:

    I, on the other hand, think they should retrofit all Swedish editions to match the English titles. (just kidding)

    It’s whatever sells better – on each particular market. Look at the German titles! The French and Spanish are “men who did NOT love women” – I guess it’s taboo in a romance language to say a man would hate women, right?

    That’s my 2 cents.


  • Karl says:

    Why does Blomkvist hate the nickname Kalle?

    Well, it’s like this: When you a little kid, you accept Richey and Davey or Charlie, but some folks, when they grow a bit older like to be called Richard, David and Charles.

    (Kalle is what you would call a kid named Karl.)

    I hope this helps.

    Posted by Karl ,


  • Maricruz says:

    First of all, let me tell you that the Spanish translation couldn’t be worse (I’m a translator and would have loved to translate it, too bad I don’t speak Swedish!!!)

    Regarding “Kalle”, are you sure Karl of your comment? Throught the first and second books (I still have the third to go) it seems to have some relation with a journalistic work that Blomkvist achieved in the past, isn’t it?

    Posted by Maricruz ,


  • Kerstin in Stockholm says:

    Having lived my entire life in Södermalm I found it very appealing to read a book that takes place in places that I’m very familiar with. I also love the way that Stieg Larsson makes passes to events and people well known for all Swedes. By the passes he makes and how he desribes certain events he shows of many of the wrongs in society ( and his left and feminist views).

    Having read the English translation because I was curious for how such a familiar things would be described to the outside world I must say I was disappointed. I can understand that most of the references to famous Swedes is taken out since it could be difficult to explain their importance, but at the same time leaving them out leave out a socialcritic that is show in the way he compare things in the book to real event and people. Beeing a feminist and socialist myself I loved how he described event the way I aswell view the world and by how and which people he mention( can’t remember them all, but remember he mentions Osmo Vallo, a famous case of a man who died while beeing detained by the police) you get a sence of whats important for Stieg.

    As to the comment of why Mikael Blomqvist doesn’t like to be called Kalle Blomqvist ( Kalle is the common nickname for Karl which is one of Mikael’s names, Carl Mikael Blomqvist) it’s because Kalle Blomqvist is a famous child detective in a series of books written by Astrid Lindgren, I guess he doesn’t fancy beeing compared to a children’s book character famous for solving crimes.

    Sorry for my bad English, hope you understand by points anyway

    their not famous outside Sweden but at the same time you misses, the parallelles and the things he want to say in a

    Posted by Kerstin in Stockholm ,


  • Susan in Canberra says:

    I’m really interested in the views of a native Swede like Kerstin who has read the English translations. I thought the plots were great but the translation was pretty substandard – in English the dialogue came across as wooden and contrived and the prose advanced the plot line but was certainly not a literary achievement. I have heard that the Scandinavian languages have a much smaller vocabulary than English and wondered whether this was a contributing factor to the unexpressive writing or whether the Swedish original was good but the translator was incapable of reproducing Larsson’s style. The fact that he has left out elements of the story suggests that the latter is quite possible – why on earth he didn’t leave them in and include footnotes or endnotes is beyond comprehension. Any reasonably well informed person in the west of sufficient age remembers Olaf Palme’s assassination and Anna Lindh’s stabbing and could cope perfectly well with learning more about Swedish political history. Anyway, if Kerstin or someone else in a similar situation can cast further light on the translation issues I would be very interested.

    By the way the first book made it very clear why Blomqvist hated being called Kalle, spelling out the reference to Astrid Lindgren’s child detective.

    Posted by Susan in Canberra, Australia ,


  • Ian Kinghorn in Edinburgh says:

    I have to say that I thought the English translation was excellent. For the most part it succeeds in transforming idiomatic Swedish into idiomatic English, even as a British English reader. I’ve just got hold of the books in Swedish, and I’m enjoying trying to follow the translation process. I have the advantage of having lived in Sweden in the 70s, and learning some Swedish then, so it’s an opportunity to revisit my rather rusty Swedish.

    Posted by Ian Kinghorn in Edinburgh, Scotland ,


  • Malin E in Norwalk says:

    What made me go nuts was the constant use of last names in the English translations.

    When I actually found out that one of the periferal police men had been given a new last name, so you wouldn’t mix it up with another person…. Why not do as in the Swedish books…. use both first and last names until Mikael, as most Swedes, refusees to be called Mr Blomkvist. Or should I say Herr Blomkvist.

    Same thing here. It is Miss Salander, but Herr Blomkvist…?

    In one sentence he has recieved a verdict, the next segment he has been given a judgement.

    I have translated enough during my 5 years in the US and 30 in growing up in Sweden to say that the translation was very, very confusing.

    Who did the Brittish translation?

    Malin E

    Posted by Malin E in Norwalk, CT ,


  • Wouter in Enschede says:

    I am not a native (English) speaker but I read a lot in English. English-to-Dutch translations often bother me when they are badly done (you can easily see the original structure of the sentence shining through in the Dutch version).

    I do not know a lot about Swedish (apart from Swedish Chef,,”Bork, bork, bork” :-)) but it I get the impression the same problem appears here; a lot of the text structure does not feel English. Some expressions seem almost correct, for instance “give an eye tooth” which I think should be “give their eyeteeth”.

    To me it all feels a bit stiff and sloppy (including some actual spelling errors in this print like “dosen’t”). Finally, I forgot where, the translator actually mentions a difference of meaning between a Swedish and English word- unless the author did so too, this is ridiculous! It is, after all, his job to translate the book without the reader noticing much. I am interested in languages and translation, but not when reading a book.

    I did like the story, and I just realised by looking for more complaints of this translation that this book is rather a hype at the moment. I must say (mainly due to the translation) I do not think it’s exceptional, but a nice read when your in bed with the flu :-)

    Posted by Wouter in Enschede, Netherlands ,


  • Gus-Gus in Paris says:

    I’m surprised that so many find fault with the English translations. I’ve read many translations that come out awkward. This isn’t one of them. I don’t know Swedish, but find the English version extraordinarily smooth and idiomatic – almost as if it were the original written in English. My wife and are enjoying this trilogy tremendously and recommending it to everyone.

    Posted by Gus-Gus in Paris ,


  • Mike in Adelaide says:

    I think what I enjoyed about the english translation was that it gave me the impression that I was in conversation with someone for who english wasn’t their first language.

    I felt like I was transported to Sweden because the english didn’t always sit right but it added to the mystique of a very well written story.

    Posted by Mike in Adelaide, Australia ,


  • amemm in Providence says:

    Hmm… Having grown up in both Sweden and the US, I felt the English translation is lacking. Not just word choice, but turns of phrase, and lack of context, that don’t let the non-Swedish readers know what they are missing. (the irony of Kalle Blomkvist, Bjornligan, offices on Gotgatan in Stockholm) Kerstin described it (in very good English) well previously.

    I’d ignored the books completely when I visited Sweden, and that was a mistake. On a whim, I listened to TGWTDT (in English) on audiocd, and cringed a bit listening to the dialogue (Lisbeth with a cockney accent?!) and the Swedish pronunciation.. But of course, the story is so good, I then was hooked. I then started reading them in English, and gave up. Finally, I received the books in Swedish for the holidays, and it was probably one of the best presents I got this year.

    I read a lot of Astrid Lindgren as a child, and was similarly disappointed when we received the English versions of her books, for our son, and found that much of the charm was lost.

    Posted by amemm in Providence, RI ,


  • JMB in Sydney says:

    I don’t speak Swedish and I’ve only read the English version so I can’t comment on the quaility of translation. But just having read that I am impressed by the series, I don’t feel as though the sentances were hard to read or dummed down. It was a very engrossing read so I say thumbs up to the translater for getting it across to us English speakers! Thanks for some of the best characters Ive read about for a while. cheers

    Posted by JMB in Sydney ,


  • HWN in Boston says:

    As an American reading the English translations, I am finding them stunningly well done. The flow is so good that I am able to forget that I am reading at all – a window opens up in the page and I’m there. So I think the translator(s) must have done an excellent job, though I’m sure some things will inevitably be lost in any translation. The only thing I wish were added is a pronunciation guide for the names! It’s nice to be able to hear them in one’s head while reading.

    Posted by HWN in Boston ,


  • PAT in SEBASTOPOL says:

    As a gardener in California I was shocked to read of rhododendrons growing in the Caribbean in the beginning of TGWPWF. Can someone who reads in Swedish check if the plant mentioned was something else, possibly oleander?

    Posted by PAT in SEBASTOPOL ,


  • Linus in Stockholm says:

    In the swedish original text it is Rhododendron.

    Posted by Linus in Stockholm ,


  • Reg Keeland in Albuquerque says:

    To Mike Pritchard in Barcelona, in response to your post of 29 May 2009, if this reaches you at this late date: Every one of your quibbles about my “translation” was something that was rewritten by MacLehose. See why I used a pseudonym? –Reg Keeland

    Posted by Reg Keeland in Albuquerque, New Mexico ,


  • Reg Keeland in Albuquerque says:

    To Mike Pritchard in Barcelona again: I heard from the Spanish translator that she was forced to use the UK edited version of the translation to “correct” her translation from Swedish! Yes, we’re all just interchangeable chimpanzees in the translation profession: give us enough typewriters and we’ll eventually translate all of Shakespeare into Swedish, just by chance.

    Posted by Reg Keeland in Albuquerque ,


  • Reg Keeland in Albuquerque says:

    To Jo in NC, USA: Kalle is the diminutive of Karl, as pointed out by Karl above, but “Kalle Blomkvist” is also the name of the boy detective in a series of children’s books by Astrid Lindgren! Mikael doesn’t want to be seen as a boy detective, basta.

    Posted by Reg Keeland in Albuquerque ,


  • Reg Keeland in Albuquerque says:

    Having just discovered this suite of comments, I welcome any other questions you may have about the translation. It’s odd that the translator is always the first to be blamed for any infelicities, when there are often numerous editors further along in the process.

    Posted by Reg Keeland in Albuquerque ,


  • Scotian in Canada says:

    I’m French but I’m working abroad and where I am, only the English translation was available. I found it highly readable and I had no issue with the “gaol” that someone here mentioned, for instance, although I only learned proper English late. So I guess it’s a good point. Or maybe not being and English native speaker prevents me from seeing stylistic mistakes …

    If I want to be picky, I was annoyed by the use of feets and °F. As far as I know, the Swedes use the metric system…

    And to be fair, I don’t think the style is (was, sorry) Larsson’s big strength. There are many parts that seem a little odd and probably are in Swedish too. But those books are horribly hard to close. I’ve had 400 pages of it tonight and I wonder in what shape I’ll be at work tomorrow…

    Posted by Scotian in Canada ,


  • Robert in Brisbane says:

    Who cares about the vlaidity of the translations? All three books are a bloody good read

    Posted by Robert in Brisbane, Australia ,


  • http://literarykitty.wordpress.com/ in London says:

    I absolutely hated the English translation!


  • Michael in Kettering says:

    I am half way through the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – the book is superb and the translation is spot on. Thank goodness – as otherwise I would not have been able to enjoy this excellent story. I look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

    Posted by Michael in Kettering, UK ,


  • Matt DeCoursey in Hong Kong says:

    In the first book, there are quite a lot of temperatures, and they are significant. It was really odd to have to calculate the conversion from Fahrenheit to Celsius, given that the characters are Swedish. For me, it broke the illusion. I was taken out of the fictional world and made to consider why the publisher would have made such an idiot decision.

    The edition I was reading, by the way, was from Penguin Canada, and I imagine all non-elderly Canadians would have had the same experience.

    Posted by Matt DeCoursey in Hong Kong ,


  • Jenny Anderson in Oakville says:

    I started this book ( the English translation) 2 days ago and found it a little hard going at first but quickly came to the point where I can’t put it down! I read it in the morning with my tea, at lunchtime, and grab a few minutes whenever I can during the day to find out what happens next! I can’t comment as to translation since I don’t speak Swedish and, I confess, have some difficulty with the proper names in the book, but the writing does sometimes appear stilted and I thought that was because the writer was Swedish and wrote the original in Swedish and that style would be different to what I’m used to. Loving it and looking forward to the next two!!

    Posted by Jenny Anderson in Oakville, Ontario,Canada ,


  • Teri Ahlstrom in Newport News says:

    I haven’t read a book in ages. I jokingly tell my friends that I stopped reading books when they started making movies. But a friend convinced me to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I was intrigued because my amazing granddaughter was recently diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. I couldn’t put the book down and once finished, I immediately started the second book. And now I’ve finished that one. I’m afraid that American English is the only language I know so of course I loved every tidbit. Thanks, Reg Keeland, for working so hard at making it possible for such a one as myself to read these wonderful books. And now… on to book three.

    Posted by Teri Ahlstrom in Newport News, Virginia ,


  • MFL in Montreal says:

    I enjoyed reading the first two volumes in its French translation in spite of it being poorly done at times. I realized the enormity of the work involved but that is no excuse for a translator and an editor to let escape so many translating errors There were some Swedish regionalisms that were poorly translated and therefore made me wonder about their real meaning. I will be reading the third volume in English in the hopes of it receiving a better treatment than the French language.

    Posted by MFL in Montreal, Canada ,


  • Wolf in Toronto says:

    Born Swede living in Canada, only read the English version. I have no quibbles with “gaol” or other British expressions. But not having read the swedish versions I regularly go “WTF?” in my head, translate into swedish and go “aha!”.

    E.g. “It was not an ideal company. They expected to make money” (or somesuch). Ideel in swedish means non-profit. Ideal makes no sense.

    or

    “She had to read the resume of the report”. Resume, in Canada at least, is only used in the Curriculum Vitae sense. Resume in swedish would be an executive summary.

    Finally “Phantomen”?? Really? Keep Fantomen or translate to The Phantom. What kind of botched gibberish is Phantomen?

    I just started the first book a few weeks ago, so I’m sure my list of peeves will grow.

    Posted by Wolf in Toronto ,


  • Rick in Louisville says:

    I’m reading book 1 right now. IMHO the English translation is OK. The I was hooked 10 pages into it. I find the prose compelling. If a book doesn’t grab me in the 25 pages I drop it and move on. I find the imperfections in translation help to give it a ‘foreign’ feel. If it were translated to ‘perfect’ American English with proper American idioms it would not read right.

    Posted by Rick in Louisville, KY USA ,


  • Steve Renolds in Ottawa says:

    I had no issue with the Penguin Canada version of TGWTDT that I read. There were a couple of confusing things, but common sense helps – for example, A3 is obviously a major highway and the A4 binders are probably similar to our three ring binders. There was nothing that presented any problem at all in appreciating the story. It was a decent translation job.

    Posted by Steve Renolds in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada ,


  • Veronica in Södra Ängby says:

    Having a Swedish mum and a Spanish dad, I grew up speaking both. But I speak English to my brother and sister, as it was the language I heard my parents speak to each other… The translation is very basic, readable, but not great. I was hoping after the first book that there would be enough complaints that they would hire someone new for the job. That is the other thing about having to watch a Swedish or Spanish film with subtitles. I can’t help but read the subtitles and get sidetracked by the bad translations…

    Posted by Veronica in Södra Ängby ,


  • Delta in Sydney says:

    Loved all the books but “gotten” and “ahold” used over and over again started to send shivers down my back. That’s exclusively American slang I would think? Not happy with the translation.

    Posted by Delta in Sydney ,


  • genji in Lisbethtown says:

    “To Mike Pritchard in Barcelona, in response to your post of 29 May 2009, if this reaches you at this late date: Every one of your quibbles about my ‘translation’ was something that was rewritten by MacLehose. See why I used a pseudonym? –Reg Keeland”

    “It’s odd that the translator is always the first to be blamed for any infelicities, when there are often numerous editors further along in the process.

    “Posted by Reg Keeland in Albuquerque , 14 maj 2010?

    ——————————-

    Thanks for these enlightening comments. I’m one of those who found the English text awkward on occasions, but who don’t fully understand the entire process of converting a Swedish novel into an English novel. Hence I’m also guilty of blaming everything on the man whose name is on the cover under “translated by”. I was surprised to read Kerstin in Stockholm’s comment (24 Oct 2009) stating that parts of the original novel had actually been cut from the English version. That’s clearly an editor’s handiwork and now I’m wondering just how many of the other complaints that I and others have are in fact nothing to do with Mr. Keeland.

    Despite these quibbles, however, I thoroughly enjoyed the English versions so they clearly worked well on the whole.

    Posted by genji in Lisbethtown ,


  • Walter in Minneapolis says:

    The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets? Nest: text variations

    Differences between texts of the Alfred A. Knopf/Vintage/Random House English (US) translation of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets? Nest, translated from the Swedish by Reg Keeland, and the MacLehose Press/Quercus English (UK) translation, also by Reg Keeland

    I bought and devoured the individual US editions of the Millenium Trilogy soon after they each came out, and then later I chose to buy the Knopf US slipcased set of all three Lisbeth Salander stories as a matched set to keep in my ?permanent? personal library.

    My initial curiosity about the US and UK editions was aroused when I decided that I want to have a complete set in paperback ?reading editions? to preserve the mint condition of my copy of the slipcased set through what I expect to be numerous additional readings (I have already completed two complete readings of all and up to five readings of certain chapters). The only paperback edition of Hornets? Nest I could find was a MacLehose Press/Quercus English (UK) edition. But as it was the same translator Reg Keeland I was not expecting any textual differences. What was immediately puzzling to me though was that the UK paperback of Hornets? Nest was so much thicker ? more pages than the US paperback editions of the first two books. I had not perceived Hornets? Nest to be significantly longer than the first two, and indeed in my Knopf hardcover slipcased set all three volumes seemed nearly the same ?thickness? in pages. Visually, there did not seem to be any significant difference in the number of words per page in the UK paperback. The typeface size, character density, and lines per page, all seemed essentially the same. What could account for such a significant difference, which a quick check of page numbers showed the UK edition of Hornets? Nest to be 113 pages longer than the US paperback of Fire? (see note below)

    I began doing a paragraph by paragraph comparison between the texts in my US Knopf Hardcover edition of Hornets? Nest and my UK edition of it. First observation was that the Knopf edition layout had actually spaced out the chapter headings in larger bolder type, leaving slightly MORE blank space on those pages than the UK edition. Identical texts were in the opening ?Intermezzo in a Corridor? so nothing there.

    But IMMEDIATELY in paragraph 5 of the first page of Chapter 1, there was a major difference! In the US edition paragraph 5 is quite short, just three sentences, ending with the sentence ?It had been a strenuous evening.? But in the UK edition paragraph 5 continues on for an additional six sentences, filling most of the page! And again, the US edition entirely omits what is paragraph 8 in the UK edition (a short two sentences long), and the US edition radically shortens what is Paragraph 12 in it, omitting three long sentences from what is paragraph 13 in the UK edition. The opening sentence in the paragraph after that is altered by omitting one word in the US edition to make a good transition from what remains of the shortened paragraph.

    At this point, in some degree of shock, I stopped this laborious word by word comparison. Absolutely there ARE differences in the text. Now I would certainly accept the proposition that these specific omissions from the US text are of secondary importance. They deal with activities in Dr. Jonasson?s day leading up to Lisbeth?s arrival at the hospital , a cup of tea being tendered to him by a nurse, and his reflections on the types of cases he sees in his medical ER practice.

    Were one to view these as two different drafts of the story, different readers might prefer either the more concise US version or the more expansive UK version. Frankly, to me these particular differences do not alter the story in any significant way, although as a percentage of the number of words in the text within this initial few pages of the story, the difference is substantial. It certainly made me wonder.

    First of all, that the two editions, both being represented as a (the) translation to English from the Swedish by the same person, Reg Keeland, could be so different. Beyond a mere translation, it appears that Mr. Keeland ? or somebody ? CHOSE to remove some of Stieg Larsson?s text from the US edition (I take that as more plausible than the alternative, which would be that for the UK edition either Keeland ADDED text of his OWN to Larsson?s Swedish text, or started from a different Swedish version by Larsson, or that perhaps Larsson lived long enough to edit and approve the shorter translation version for the US edition?). What was the principal REASON for the changes? Who decided on them?

    Secondly, a large concern came to me about what OTHER deviations might exist within the 743 pages of the UK text, which might be (to me at least) important clues, local color, plot developments or character insights to the story, when the initial ones I discovered above were (in my opinion) not so critical.

    Now in the big picture here I read and delight in the Lisbeth stories as vividly entertaining roller coaster rides of suspense. I am not a literary stylist or critic. I am not motivated to dissect the stories or critique Larsson?s writing. I do not have the desire (at least not yet!) to crawl word for word, sentence by sentence, and paragraph by paragraph, through the entire book ? or all three books! ? as I did for the first few pages of Hornets? Nest, to check for more deviations.

    So to check quickly for further more important deviations, I first jumped directly in the UK edition to reading the exciting and climactic Part Four , which begins with chapter 23.

    What I noticed in Part Four, in a normal roller coaster speed reading of the UK edition, trusting in my memory on the US edition, were only a few, most trivial and logical deviations. In the Epilogue where Lisbeth and Ronald have their ultimate confrontation the old brick works, ?freight elevator? in the US edition is replaced by ?goods lift? in the UK edition. And the dimensions of the old brick works are stated in feet in the US edition and stated in the equivalent number of meters in the UK edition. Those Part Four changes I noticed are of course truly logical and trivial changes, neither adding , changing, nor removing any information from the reader. Any literate reader in either the US or the UK would immediately understand either meaning perfectly. That of course does not address what other deviations may or may not occur in all the other pages of the text, nor is it certain that there are not some additional deviations within Part Four that I simply missed in my fast read.

    Then I went back to chapter 1 and worked out to page 6 out of the 24 pages in the UK version and edition of chapter 1. Looking just at those first six pages of chapter 1 in the UK paperback of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets? Nest, I found a number of additional changes:

    ? Two additional complete paragraphs which were omitted entirely from the US edition, leading to a total reduction of over 20% in the words of text covering that same part of the chapter in the US edition

    ? The name of the nurse was identified as Nurse Nicander in the UK edition, but was dropped in the US edition and replaced by ?the nurse?

    ? The hotel name changed from the ?Radisson? in the UK edition to the ?Elite Park Avenue? in the US edition

    ? The word ?telephone? was used in the UK edition and ?phone? was used in its place in the US edition

    As noted earlier, these deviations I have identified above in chapter 1 can all be pretty safely categorized as of merely secondary importance to the plot or character development. But that so many differences can be found in just the first less than 1% of the overall text is surprising to me. I found no statement or indication that would lead me to expect even a single change. Indeed, the overleaf of the title page in the US edition includes the statement, ?This translation originally published in Great Britain by MacLehose Press, an imprint of Quercus.? This translation, it says: It does NOT say, ?The translation in this book has been adapted for the US from the translation originally published in Great Britain by MacLehose Press, an imprint of Quercus.?

    I am very curious: have others in any of these Stieg Larsson forums looked into the differences between the US and UK editions? Any comments or discussions? Has anyone who is fluent in reading Swedish compared the original Swedish text to these translations Into English? Does anyone know whether similar variations between US and UK printings of the same text are common in many or most novels?

    Posted by Walter in Minneapolis ,


  • Walter in Minneapolis says:

    To Reg Keeland

    I should have read some of your earlier posts before submitting mine just above, Reg!

    Fundamentally, the bottom line to me as you doubtless have deduced from my post just above, I think the books and your translation are just GREAT!

    (sorry that the quotation marks and bullets in my text were swapped to question marks in the post)

    Meanwhile from your earlier post responding to someone else my suspicion is that for their own reasons somebody at Knopf cut out some of your translation from the US edition, and somebody at MacLehose swapped in a lot of British English words and expressions where the translation the way you wrote it used American English idioms.

    Being of intense DANISH heritage myself (cousins there today, all four grandparents born there, etc, etc) I found it delightful that so many of my ancestors given names appeared in the Swedish characters in the series :-)

    Posted by Walter in Minneapolis ,


  • Liz in Sweden says:

    Yes the English translation makes a good read but I’ve just started reading the Swedish originals and after 3 chapters there are some glaring misses that detract from the way we understand the characters.

    Salander is described as being anorexically thin in Swedish but just anorexic in English. Breasts that are barely visible under clothing(Swe) are not ‘childlike’ (Eng).

    Kåt is not attracted – it means horny.

    Her clothes are ovanlig prydlig – unusually correct but in English Salander is exceptionally decked out!

    Frodes reaction in the English version omits references to dog turds.

    Blomkvist is Bror Duktig – perhaps Mister clever clogs – but not Practical Pig form a Disney film, and framgångsrik is succesful, not excellent. He has to pay skadestånd – damages – as a result of the court case – not taxes.

    When Armansky thinks of her as Pippi Longstocking the idea his good judgement has kept him from joking about her is completely omitted.

    The list is a long one….Clearly some errors are just that but some are just carelessness and perhaps by choice and together they reduce the shades of meaning and subtle character diescriptions (and dry humour).

    Posted by Liz in Sweden ,


  • Former Malmö inhabitant in Paris says:

    Sorry for this late comment but I’ve just discovered this site and its thread.

    About 35 years ago I was a professional translator in Sweden and have read all three books in English, French, Swedish, German and Italian. I have to admit that I am addicted to the entire Trilogy. From what I have read, elsewhere, there was a great deal of editorial ‘slash and burn’ editing of the original proofs due to Larsson’s logorrhea style of writing; so much so in fact that the translator (Reg Keeland) protested and almost had his name taken off the final product.

    At the outset I honestly thought the english version was below par but on repeated readings am very impressed by the smoothness of the translated language in all three books, especially ‘Hornet’s nest’, so can imagine that non-swedish readers couldn’t give a hoot about the nit-picking errors tha some of the more polyglot readers have found. The French translation is exceptional, almost up to the level of the original Swedish and this made the book a mega success in France and allowed it to become a radio drama on France Culture. The books caused a storm in literary circles in Italy, Germany and also in Spain (though i haven’t read the spanish translation).

    For any english speaker who wants to become a translator, learn latin, as Tacitus’ writings in the original are very different from the translated copy.

    Posted by Former Malmö inhabitant in Paris, France ,


  • mikekresch in San Francisco says:

    Enough with the translation BS. I have just finished the three books and had no difficulty understanding and following the story line. I have some Latin and Spanish background but don’t really think either was necessary to comprehend and thoroughly enjoy the writings. I am just saddened that there will be no more of these engrossing thrillers. How fortunate advocates of this genre are to have the opportunity to read this series in whatever language best suits them!

    Posted by mikekresch in San Francisco ,


  • Lyn in Stockholm says:

    There’s nothing wrong with the translation. Any flaws in the text (and there are many), is down to the author. Larsson wasn’t a very good writer – he even said so himself.

    Posted by Lyn in Stockholm ,


  • Chuck in Ferndale says:

    Concerning the endings of book 3: I have read the books in English, and have seen the Noomi Rapace TV 6-part series. SPOILER: The final scene in the TV series, and in the book, are different. In the book, she lets him in; in the TV series, she does not, he leaves and does not come in.

    My original thought was, why would the producers make such a significant change? But later I realized that the change may actually have been in the English translation.

    I know there are a lot of people who have read the book in Swedish. In the Swedish version, does she let him in or turn him away?

    Posted by Chuck in Ferndale, Washington ,


  • Asni in Wellington NZ says:

    I completely agree with Liz: the English translation leaves a LOT to be desired when it comes to capturing the subtleties of the character’s attitudes and behaviours, to the extend that on my first read, it lead me to completely misunderstand what was going on especially in the relationship between Lisbeth and Mikael, which to my mind, is really the center of the book: it’s a love story, not a thriller. My Swedish is rather sketchy (my native language is German, which is closer to Swedish in many ways than English, especially when it comes to vocabulary) but I decided to read the original because I had a feeling that the translator didn’t really understand some of the cultural context of the story, and was wondering if it would read differently in Swedish. And boy it does! Larsson is a very good writer who chooses his words *very* carefully, and he does not deserve to be treated as if he were just another author of penny romances, where shades and subtleties of language don’t matter. I hope there will be another more adequate translation sometime! And as to the titles: I think it is a crying shame that so few foreign publishers have had the guts to keep the original titles, especially of the first book, since it is something of a political statement – an allusion to a famous line from Germaine Greer to be precise – and I think not to use it, is a total cop out.

    Posted by Asni in Wellington NZ ,


  • Christopher Lane says:

    There is an Art and Science of translation. the medium of the spoken, written word dubbing and subtitles in movie media presents such challenges; In films and being hard of hearing listening to the original language and reading subtitles allows one to get the best of understanding as there is a natural language where imagination experience allow connection to the author . The trilogy now read 3 times makes for 1st class reading as pertinent today with GBV getting greater coverage. 8 years later perhaps it is time to reverse the messages to latest at the top!


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      Comments : 0

      Started by : Michael 17 October 2020
    • The girl who takes an eye for an eye
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by Priya 12 June 2017.
      Started by : Mikael 6 June 2017
    • Next book
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by Brad 12 June 2017.
      Started by : Nicolas 6 June 2017
    • Other works of fiction portraying extreme violence against women
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by Alex 12 June 2017.
      Started by : kfir levi 5 June 2017
    • Doctor
      Comments : 0

      Started by : Patricia Alexander 8 April 2017
    • salander’s mistake
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by Nick in England 06 July 2015.
      Started by : Janna Wachter in Seattle 30 April 2015
    • salander’s mistake
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by Cindy in St. Louis MO 25 August 2015.
      Started by : Janna Wachter in Seattle 30 April 2015
    • looking for academic articles
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Sindy in St. Louis MO 24 July 2015.
      Started by : Amnon 27 April 2015
    • Who is who in The Millenium Thrilogy
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by The Dragon from Salanderville 02 February 2015.
      Started by : The Dragon from Salanderville 10 November 2014
    • Who is who in “The Millenium Thrilogy”?
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by The Dragon from Salanderville 03 February 2015.
      Started by : The Dragon from Salanderville 10 November 2014
    • Product placement?
      Comments : 32
      Last comment by Ina in Berlin 03 February 2009.
      Started by : Emmi in Helsinki 30 January 2009
    • Imperfections
      Comments : 15
      Last comment by mia in adelaide 08 April 2009.
      Started by : barda in São Paulo – Brazil 06 February 2009
    • Other books mentioned in his series
      Comments : 15
      Last comment by castilho in são paulo 25 August 2009.
      Started by : R wood in Whitehorse 08 August 2009
    • Any similar series?
      Comments : 25
      Last comment by nicole jones in barcelona 07 October 2009.
      Started by : VMB in Canada 10 September 2009
    • Overrated
      Comments : 16
      Last comment by lene in los angeles 09 February 2010.
      Started by : GM in London 07 February 2010
    • Should the books be read in chronological order?
      Comments : 40
      Last comment by tony in hove 18 February 2010.
      Started by : Sandy S. 18 February 2010
    • Question about the second book
      Comments : 14
      Last comment by sandy in dc 30 March 2010.
      Started by : olivia 02 October 2023
    • Eva be strong
      Comments : 27
      Last comment by Laura T. in Lindenhurst 15 April 2010.
      Started by : Billko in CA 11 April 2010
    • Great movie
      Comments : 30
      Last comment by Rob Heidel in Simi Valley 13 April 2010.
      Started by : Robbitybob in Palmwoods 12 April 2010
    • What Will Lisbeth Do With All That Money?
      Comments : 10
      Last comment by benwashear 16 July 2010.
      Started by : Moira in Seattle 15 July 2010
    • “modernising” original script during translation
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by mandana geda in Cambridge 06 May 2010.
      Started by : scarymary in Carlisle 04 May 2010
    • KALLE BLOMKVIST – What does Kalle mean?
      Comments : 53
      Last comment by Anita Hedvall in Portland OR 16 July 2010.
      Started by : 21 April 1121
    • Surnames
      Comments : 11
      Last comment by sharpey in Richmond 21 July 2010.
      Started by : Viv in christchurch 18 July 2010
    • Other similar series?
      Comments : 17
      Last comment by Kim in Minneapolis 04 August 2010.
      Started by : Brad in Detroit 28 July 2010
    • English phonetic pronounciations
      Comments : 17
      Last comment by admin 31 July 2010.
      Started by : terri mcdonald in Riverside 28 July 2010
    • no really, overrated
      Comments : 52
      Last comment by lew in Vancouver 19 August 2010.
      Started by : jd 19 August 2010
    • New writer for next book
      Comments : 38
      Last comment by Taclem in Uppsala 25 August 2010.
      Started by : Jules in London 24 August 2010
    • Did Lisbeth salander kill Hans-Erik Wennerström
      Comments : 37
      Last comment by Barb in Winnipeg 07 September 2010.
      Started by : Neil in Bristol 07 September 2010
    • Book Titles
      Comments : 8
      Last comment by EV in Massachusetts 15 September 2011.
      Started by : Vas in Washington DC 12 September 2011
    • The Other Salander Girl
      Comments : 12
      Last comment by Renato Freitas in Vitória da Conquista 11 May 2014.
      Started by : The Dragon from Salanderville 23 April 2014
    • Mikbeth or Miribeth?
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Zalandersson 08 October 2013.
      Started by : Nikita in Berdyansk 08 October 2013
    • Song name needed
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by Logan 16 September 2013.
      Started by : Karen M in SC 12 September 2013
    • Sadly No Forth Book
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by Cindy in St.Louis MO 24 September 2013.
      Started by : Three Only in CyberSpace 03 September 2013
    • the tour
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by in St.Louis 05 October 2013.
      Started by : neil in nottingham 31 August 2013
    • 4th book?
      Comments : 17
      Last comment by Lamar Odom in AGnast 01 September 2013.
      Started by : Meriem in Algiers 24 August 2013
    • The Girl With The Stick-on Tattoo
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by rickbull in Nashville 12 June 2013.
      Started by : dkjanotta in Switzerland 07 June 2013
    • 4th book
      Comments : 8
      Last comment by Steve in Canada 21 January 2013.
      Started by : Magnus Gustafsson in Illinois USA 15 January 2013
    • Help me with your comments!
      Comments : 4
      Last comment by Alvie Fletcher in Charlotte 03 December 2012.
      Started by : Vale in Venice(Italy) 24 November 2012
    • Overrated to the max!
      Comments : 29
      Last comment by charlotte in canada 02 October 2012.
      Started by : Clu in Goteborg 24 September 2012
    • That Girl Started Her Own Country
      Comments : 12
      Last comment by plappen in Connecticut 12 September 2012.
      Started by : Brian Matthews in Las Vegas 07 September 2012
    • Whose motorcycle?
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by vvan in melbourne 29 August 2012.
      Started by : chuckg in Cairo GA 16 August 2012
    • Court building from original film?
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by Amanda in Zwolle 16 August 2012.
      Started by : Amanda in Zwolle 07 August 2012
    • Mistake?
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Ashtray Wasp in New Zealand 15 August 2012.
      Started by : Shady 03 August 2012
    • Cant make my mind up
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by Quill in Awkland 22 July 2012.
      Started by : Sarah in Portsmouth 18 July 2012
    • nicknames
      Comments : 8
      Last comment by Rachael in Toronto 05 July 2012.
      Started by : mandy in england 29 June 2012
    • Eva’s Curse
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by mojo.rhythm in Hooville 14 June 2012.
      Started by : J.Bean in UK 09 June 2012
    • Reviews
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Kaat in Singapore 27 June 2012.
      Started by : Jaideep in Amazon.com 20 May 2012
    • Next Stieg Larsson???
      Comments : 0
      Last comment by 16 May 2012.
      Started by : 01 January 1970
    • Was dag svensson’s book published?
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Rachael in Toronto 20 May 2012.
      Started by : Solo in Riyadh 16 May 2012
    • Small, small acting world
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by Rachael in Toronto 09 May 2012.
      Started by : sonya in new britain. 30 April 2012
    • “All the Evil” has a prequel!
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by Sandy McCaig-Allen in Arlington 14 April 2012.
      Started by : Leo Rivers in Cottage Grove Oregon 02 October 2023
    • food??
      Comments : 21
      Last comment by Wen 29 February 2012.
      Started by : c.d 29 February 2012
    • Didn’t understand
      Comments : 14
      Last comment by Dahlia 12 February 2012.
      Started by : J.T. in England 12 February 2012
    • Niedermans diagnosis
      Comments : 4
      Last comment by V in Maryland 12 February 2012.
      Started by : Sandra in Cleveland 12 February 2012
    • keeping all that money
      Comments : 18
      Last comment by Freddie 09 February 2012.
      Started by : anna 09 February 2012
    • Worth it to read 2 & 3?
      Comments : 27
      Last comment by J-Dubbs in NY 09 January 2012.
      Started by : Erin in Virginia 09 January 2012
    • Paolo Roberto
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by M. in Louisiana 19 January 2012.
      Started by : Polly in Freeport USA 08 January 2012
    • 3 most sympathetic characters and 3 most repulsive ones(in the books)
      Comments : 18
      Last comment by trinity in ny 12 January 2012.
      Started by : Heckler in Saint-Petersburg 05 January 2012
    • Similarities and Differences in the trilogy?
      Comments : 4
      Last comment by S MacMillan in Gibraltar 24 January 2012.
      Started by : Felix in Norway 02 January 2012
    • Millennium products
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by Mikael in Stockholm 01 January 2012.
      Started by : Jonna in Turku 30 December 2011
    • The American version of ‘Tattoo’
      Comments : 45
      Last comment by HiroProtagonist in Poughkeepsie 16 December 2011.
      Started by : hilogreg in hawaii 14 December 2011
    • Can anyone help me please?
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by John in Wicklow 03 December 2011.
      Started by : Charles in London 02 December 2011
    • So what’s next on your reading list?
      Comments : 0
      Last comment by 27 November 2011.
      Started by : vicky too i hong kong 26 November 2011
    • sexy salander
      Comments : 29
      Last comment by Dragon Fly in England 08 November 2011.
      Started by : Bruce in London 08 November 2011
    • Noomi Rapace (Liz)
      Comments : 9
      Last comment by Vas in Washington DC 21 September 2011.
      Started by : Tim in Tucson 21 September 2011
    • Secondary characters
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by dot 10 October 2011.
      Started by : Vas in Washington DC 12 September 2011
    • Stieg Larsson
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Ash in California 22 December 2011.
      Started by : Vas in Washington DC 12 September 2011
    • Book titles
      Comments : 31
      Last comment by admin 03 February 2009.
      Started by : Ghess in Madison 02 February 2009
    • Berger and sex
      Comments : 22
      Last comment by Mr.Woker in Boone 15 September 2011.
      Started by : Vas in Washington DC 12 September 2011
    • Epilogue of ‘hornets nest’
      Comments : 17
      Last comment by emm in Perth 01 September 2011.
      Started by : karin p in salisbury 27 August 2011
    • Why did he not leave a will?
      Comments : 18
      Last comment by Dq in west Croydon 20 August 2011.
      Started by : B.G. in UK 07 August 2011
    • No Fourth Book
      Comments : 18
      Last comment by Betty Kowall in Guelph 09 August 2011.
      Started by : Dragon Fly in England 03 August 2011
    • Best Read
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by admin 06 August 2011.
      Started by : Stuart in America 03 August 2011
    • Friends will not read
      Comments : 16
      Last comment by Ted 20 July 2011.
      Started by : Helen in England 19 July 2011
    • Which film is best
      Comments : 10
      Last comment by Ted 15 July 2011.
      Started by : 15 July 2011
    • anyone who did the milleniumtrilogy walkingtour in Stockholm?
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by M Holloway in Cobourg 14 August 2011.
      Started by : Rosalie in Rotterdam 06 July 2011
    • Funny Unatractive Spanish title translation
      Comments : 11
      Last comment by exfat in aspirina 26 June 2011.
      Started by : paula in Miami 26 June 2011
    • Spanish Tittles horrendous
      Comments : 4
      Last comment by saw the movie in ransack 16 August 2011.
      Started by : DJ in Madrid 26 June 2011
    • american version will suck
      Comments : 39
      Last comment by Brookins in Baton Rouge 24 June 2011.
      Started by : polly in freeport 23 June 2011
    • my real name is ronald niedermann
      Comments : 11
      Last comment by Kylie in London 07 June 2011.
      Started by : ronald dean niedermann in toledo iowa usa 30 May 2011
    • Outstanding story telling
      Comments : 13
      Last comment by admin 24 May 2011.
      Started by : Jeremy in Oxforshire 18 May 2011
    • Millenium-Roots: The 10 Book Series Plan
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by Leo 15 May 2011.
      Started by : Leo Rivers in Cottage Grove Oregon 15 May 2011
    • Old technology
      Comments : 10
      Last comment by Ray in Sydney 20 May 2011.
      Started by : Bob 15 May 2011
    • Sport & fitness
      Comments : 4
      Last comment by oboros in seattle 01 June 2011.
      Started by : Nige Clements in Brussels 14 May 2011
    • Andre Jute says…
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by Bestseller in Bangkok 24 April 2011.
      Started by : genji in Lisbethtown 20 April 2011
    • The Jute Scandal
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by admin 06 May 2011.
      Started by : genji in Lisbethtown 20 April 2011
    • English dub
      Comments : 15
      Last comment by Mike in Wisconsin 23 March 2011.
      Started by : sg in to 02 October 2023
    • Under edited?
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by bestseller in Bangkok 17 March 2011.
      Started by : Jim Rittenour in Milaca MN 02 October 2023
    • Money
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by Lars in Nyköping 07 March 2011.
      Started by : Lars in Nyköping 02 October 2023
    • what phone did Lisbeth use
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by admin 03 March 2011.
      Started by : AM in NYC 02 October 2023
    • ITunes problem, Abridged or unabridged
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by Ro in Ireland 23 February 2011.
      Started by : SyKotOy in Sydney Australia 23 February 2011
    • How stupid is Blomkvist??
      Comments : 24
      Last comment by me in meland 25 February 2011.
      Started by : Cass in Christchurch 21 February 2011
    • Deleted Scenes
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by admin 05 March 2011.
      Started by : Maeby Shirley in Adelaide 16 February 2011
    • Lisbeth’s Revenge
      Comments : 50
      Last comment by F in Helsinki 03 February 2011.
      Started by : Ro in Ireland 03 February 2011
    • Which book is the best?
      Comments : 53
      Last comment by Tiny in Vancouver 11 January 2011.
      Started by : Aine in Ireland 10 January 2011
    • setting of the story
      Comments : 11
      Last comment by Jussi Tuovinen in Helsinki 09 January 2011.
      Started by : Andrew Situ in Fremantle 06 January 2011
    • Real people appearing as characters
      Comments : 10
      Last comment by Nikolina in Buzet 05 January 2011.
      Started by : Andrew Situ in Fremantle 05 January 2011
    • How to pronounce Micke?
      Comments : 18
      Last comment by Silvia in Romania 27 December 2010.
      Started by : Hollibelle 27 December 2010
    • Gabrielsson a co-author?
      Comments : 4
      Last comment by admin 12 January 2011.
      Started by : Andrew Situq in Fremantle 14 December 2010
    • Romance between Mikael and Lisbeth
      Comments : 62
      Last comment by Andrew Situ in Fremantle 14 December 2010.
      Started by : Debs in Mexico 13 December 2010
    • Song about Lisbeth, etc
      Comments : 15
      Last comment by Cathy Harmon in fremont 27 November 2010.
      Started by : DJ Jablonski in New Wark 26 November 2010
    • Wow !
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Jennifer in Yukon 11 January 2011.
      Started by : Tricia in living in Daventry(UK) and France 21 November 2010
    • Is there a thrid movie?
      Comments : 18
      Last comment by John S. in Minneapolis 18 November 2010.
      Started by : StiegFan-Maine 18 November 2010
    • plot hole Dragon tattoo
      Comments : 21
      Last comment by Amy in San Diego 18 November 2010.
      Started by : John S. in Minneapolis 17 November 2010
    • Movie lengths?
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Julia in Piteå 14 November 2010.
      Started by : jim in florida in south florida 10 November 2010
    • Coffee and sandwiches??!!
      Comments : 72
      Last comment by benwasheare 10 November 2010.
      Started by : 09 November 2010
    • TGWPWF Prelude
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by admin 19 October 2010.
      Started by : Sue in Woodbine 17 October 2010
    • A 5th Book found… or is it the 4th?
      Comments : 0
      Last comment by 14 November 2010.
      Started by : l_rivers in Cottage Grove Oregon 11 October 2010
    • Reference to Astrid Lindgrens work
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Simon in Stockholm 07 December 2010.
      Started by : Splurr in Stockholm 08 October 2010
    • Implausible?
      Comments : 11
      Last comment by admin 06 October 2010.
      Started by : Marshall in Ballarat 03 October 2010
    • The tatoo and the sister?
      Comments : 53
      Last comment by PatMillenniumObsessed in Los Angeles 18 September 2010.
      Started by : sandiandfrances in denman island 18 September 2010
    • Read books in any order?
      Comments : 27
      Last comment by Sara in Denver 17 September 2010.
      Started by : Bill Johnson in Milwaukee 17 September 2010
    • Harriet Vagner
      Comments : 0

      Started by : dtokma 17 September 2019
    • More food
      Comments : 0

      Started by : Hally Halcyon 15 July 2019
    • Money
      Comments : 0

      Started by : Andreas Hage 25 July 2018
    • Missing Pages 411-442
      Comments : 0

      Started by : Michael Martini 13 May 2018
    • Who decided the Swedish names of the 3 books?
      Comments : 0

      Started by : Pelle 8 March 2018
    • Martin Vanger and Eva his dentist
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by JK 04 June 2018.
      Started by : Lee 12 July 2017
    • I think I will skip the movie
      Comments : 8
      Last comment by Cindy in St. Louis MO 03 January 2015.
      Started by : Jim DiGriz in Ellanaduo 06 December 2014
    • Book Club discussion questions
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by Darlene Allen in Las Vegas 16 March 2009.
      Started by : Julie Wootton in Stourbridge 14 February 2009
    • The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
      Comments : 76
      Last comment by Sioux 26 August 2008.
      Started by : Editor in Stockholm 17 November 2008
    • Real and fresh look at violence against women
      Comments : 4
      Last comment by castilho in são paulo 13 April 2009.
      Started by : Melita Wade Thorpe in San Jose 04 April 2009
    • Henrik
      Comments : 10
      Last comment by gingerwitch in London/UK 24 February 2009.
      Started by : Jimmy in Queens 21 February 2009
    • Longreach Australia
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by Cheryl in Brisbane 18 June 2010.
      Started by : queenslander in Longreach 10 May 2010
    • Two Technical Flaws
      Comments : 41
      Last comment by sgpatien in livermore 16 May 2010.
      Started by : Phill in Chicago ill 16 May 2010
    • Vangers
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by admin 26 July 2010.
      Started by : Hugh in NYC 19 July 2010
    • victims’ families never contacted?
      Comments : 10
      Last comment by Arturo Abel in anthonyburgess12gmail.com 08 January 2011.
      Started by : d gledhill in comox valley 06 September 2010
    • Lead actress announced
      Comments : 8
      Last comment by SteveA in Oakland 07 September 2010.
      Started by : foxa in sydney 17 August 2010
    • Family tree online?
      Comments : 9
      Last comment by Moristotle in Mebane 28 July 2010.
      Started by : Adam in Salt Lake City 26 July 2010
    • The Tsar with the Dragon Tatto
      Comments : 8
      Last comment by Cindy in St.Louis MO 18 April 2014.
      Started by : The Dragon from Salanderville 18 January 2014
    • Plague’s cuff
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by rickbull in Nashville 21 June 2013.
      Started by : Brian in Harwood Hts IL 19 June 2013
    • Details about Lizbeth
      Comments : 12
      Last comment by rickbull in Nashville 17 June 2013.
      Started by : Cindy in St. Lous MO 12 June 2013
    • Why?
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by BaCL2 in Tallahassee 04 January 2013.
      Started by : rhoyal3 in NYC 31 December 2012
    • Lisbeth’s question to her mother
      Comments : 8
      Last comment by cd in canada 01 August 2012.
      Started by : NTB in USA 30 July 2012
    • Mind-numbing!
      Comments : 20
      Last comment by Pytor 15 May 2012.
      Started by : MC in Ireland 15 May 2012
    • Hooked so soon
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by Ron S. in Milford 03 April 2012.
      Started by : I Carter in Stockport 02 April 2012
    • Why not rubber band?
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by Jean in Seattle 28 January 2012.
      Started by : SHC in Illinois 21 January 2012
    • Who was in picture in pocket of leather jacket
      Comments : 16
      Last comment by TGWTDT FAN in Hamilton ON 05 January 2012.
      Started by : Marie in New York 04 January 2012
    • can the 1st book stand alone?
      Comments : 15
      Last comment by BrainDrops in Montreal 05 August 2011.
      Started by : missuspickypins in fort collins 01 August 2011
    • Millennium TV mini series
      Comments : 24
      Last comment by dfr in chicago 02 July 2011.
      Started by : Polly in Freeport 23 June 2011
    • Books read by Mikael and Lisbeth?
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by David Cashman in Providence 11 January 2012.
      Started by : Robert in Raleigh 07 May 2011
    • Why does Lisbeth get rid of all evidence?
      Comments : 15
      Last comment by Michelle W. in Philadelphia 07 March 2011.
      Started by : arwen22 in Seattle 02 October 2023
    • t-shirt
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by jent in netherlands 06 February 2011.
      Started by : D.Putchaconis in Fayetteville 29 January 2011
    • Blomkvist Conclusion
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by Angie in Hong Kong 24 January 2011.
      Started by : Manuel in Lima 24 January 2011
    • Where is Hedestad?
      Comments : 22
      Last comment by TG in Stockholm 23 December 2010.
      Started by : Anne in Fort Collins 17 December 2010
    • flowers
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by admin 05 December 2010.
      Started by : bonnie in pittsburgh 29 November 2010
    • Song Lisbeth listens to?
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by Jay Jech 23 November 2010.
      Started by : JJ 08 November 2010
    • Martin Vanger and Herman Webster Mudgett
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by ward.brian403gmail.com in millarville 11 October 2010.
      Started by : VV in New London 29 September 2010
    • What does Lisbeth write on the body of the guardian?
      Comments : 12
      Last comment by boots in usa 20 September 2010.
      Started by : Cath 19 September 2010
    • Salander ditches Martin’s Laptop
      Comments : 18
      Last comment by benwasheare 19 September 2010.
      Started by : New Larsson Fan in Tampa 18 September 2010
    • Hornet’s nest questions
      Comments : 0

      Started by : David black 9 December 2019
    • Where does all the money go.
      Comments : 0

      Started by : GND 3 October 2019
    • 1st Edition, 1st Printings.
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by Alexandra 25 May 2019.
      Started by : William Galvin 3 October 2018
    • Inside the Mind of Lisbeth Salander
      Comments : 10
      Last comment by Elisabeth Moore 01 October 2012.
      Started by : 04 May 2012
    • Niederman
      Comments : 12
      Last comment by admin 28 June 2010.
      Started by : HUGH in NYC 27 June 2010
    • Lisbeth Salander
      Comments : 37
      Last comment by Nieves in Spain 27 January 2009.
      Started by : Mike Cooky in BLB Germany 26 January 2009
    • Her sister Camilla
      Comments : 32
      Last comment by Larssonista in San Diego 19 June 2010.
      Started by : Millie in Oakland 16 June 2010
    • My Only Problem
      Comments : 14
      Last comment by Tesserae in North Bay 15 April 2010.
      Started by : Liam in Bray 02 October 2023
    • Why is she so messed up?
      Comments : 13
      Last comment by Lily in Atlanta 18 July 2010.
      Started by : Just Wondering … in Minneapolis 17 July 2010
    • why did she get the tattoo
      Comments : 30
      Last comment by Jennifer N. in Seattle 18 July 2010.
      Started by : mindy in baltimore 17 July 2010
    • the forgotten car
      Comments : 8
      Last comment by benwashear 04 September 2010.
      Started by : ikki in helsingfors 12 August 2010
    • Salander
      Comments : 0

      Started by : Cindy i St. Louis 02 May 2013
    • Lisbeth nicknames help!
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by Cindy in St.Louis MO 18 April 2014.
      Started by : scimmia in Alba (Italy) 06 January 2014
    • Lisbeth’s social “issues”
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by Cindy in St. Louis 19 October 2013.
      Started by : Daniel in Stockholm 18 October 2013
    • Salander
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by Sarka Hinzova in Prague 12 November 2009.
      Started by : Brodie in Colwyn Bay 13 September 2009
    • Froking Salander…
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by Kecie in Australia 30 October 2013.
      Started by : Cindy in St. Louis 02 May 2013
    • camilla
      Comments : 11
      Last comment by Rachael in Toronto 12 August 2012.
      Started by : charlotte in canada 09 August 2012
    • Lisbeth Salander Gear
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by admin 27 April 2012.
      Started by : Deuschle in Chicago 05 January 2012
    • All the evil
      Comments : 14
      Last comment by Lulú in Ostend 12 November 2011.
      Started by : charlotte in canada 12 November 2011
    • what mistake lisabeth made?
      Comments : 11
      Last comment by oboros in seattle 01 June 2011.
      Started by : Spooner in USA 26 May 2011
    • Lisbeth Salander Tattoo
      Comments : 12
      Last comment by Gorgon1001 in Denver 19 March 2011.
      Started by : Júlia Alves in Rio de Janeiro 02 October 2023
    • Morality of Lisbeth Salander
      Comments : 26
      Last comment by hilogreg in Hawaii 10 January 2011.
      Started by : Tiny in Vancouver 09 January 2011
    • Refresh my memory please
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by Karyn in UK 26 November 2010.
      Started by : rckhoury in Three Oaks 26 November 2010
    • What about the implants?
      Comments : 33
      Last comment by john S. in minneapolis 20 November 2010.
      Started by : Petra in Kempten 20 November 2010
    • How did Mikael?
      Comments : 12
      Last comment by a g johnston in glasgow 16 March 2010.
      Started by : ee in Knoxville 02 October 2023
    • Lisbeth made a mistake?
      Comments : 12
      Last comment by benwasheare 05 August 2010.
      Started by : Ann C. in MA 05 August 2010
    • Ringtone of Mikael Blomkvist
      Comments : 22
      Last comment by admin 14 November 2010.
      Started by : Ocho 08 November 2010
    • The Girl in the Spider’s Web
      Comments : 0

      Started by : gregory K mansur 12 April 2019
    • how meny book and the order
      Comments : 0

      Started by : Reece Poole 22 October 2017
    • What waa he like?
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by Charlotte in Montreal 24 November 2014.
      Started by : PP in Stockholm 15 November 2014
    • His death
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by Hans in Cape Town 15 November 2014.
      Started by : Aisha 10 November 2014
    • Book 4, will it ever be published?
      Comments : 19
      Last comment by Kristin in Pz 09 April 2009.
      Started by : Micael (exiled Swede) in the Swedish speaking part of Finland 16 February 2009
    • How did he die?
      Comments : 55
      Last comment by Vincenzo in Vellano 07 January 2009.
      Started by : Janice Keeler in Atlanta Georgia 02 January 2009
    • What is true in the fiction
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by matt in stuttgart 27 November 2009.
      Started by : roberto slace in genova (italy) 02 October 2023
    • Trust Capital
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by KJ in Cinci 03 September 2009.
      Started by : Trika in PacPal 18 July 2009
    • Was Stieg a Musician?
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by heve in amsterdam 05 December 2009.
      Started by : congabobby in Petaluma 17 July 2009
    • What are some of your favourite things about the books?
      Comments : 10
      Last comment by Maricruz in Quito 20 September 2009.
      Started by : J in Denmark 11 September 2009
    • conspiracy
      Comments : 15
      Last comment by bbostock in bryn athyn Pa. 25 June 2010.
      Started by : fixedgeargirl@aol.com in west palm beach 06 June 2010
    • so sad he died
      Comments : 4
      Last comment by MaryClare 26 December 2011.
      Started by : charlotte in guess 11 December 2011
    • A shocked late comer…
      Comments : 8
      Last comment by Sven in Huddinge 23 December 2010.
      Started by : Cara in Torquay (UK) 22 December 2010
    • Which one?
      Comments : 0

      Started by : Dawn 22 November 2020
    • Unstoppable
      Comments : 0

      Started by : Dawn 22 November 2020
    • Chase Scene
      Comments : 0

      Started by : Jeff Polaski 2 December 2017
    • Movie Casting
      Comments : 65
      Last comment by Sarah 21 May 2008.
      Started by : Editor in Sweden 17 November 2008
    • The trailers
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by giulia – italy 24 August 2008.
      Started by : Editor in Sweden 17 November 2008
    • The Movie – release dates?
      Comments : 19
      Last comment by ilja in netherlands 17 January 2009.
      Started by : Maike in London 08 January 2009
    • Movie in US?
      Comments : 8
      Last comment by Lili in Paris 30 July 2009.
      Started by : Valerie in Silver Spring 15 July 2009
    • The Movie!
      Comments : 134
      Last comment by Tony in Stockholm 12 February 2009.
      Started by : Tony in Stockholm 12 February 2009
    • Has anyone seen the 2nd movie?
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by admin 19 September 2009.
      Started by : 19 September 2009
    • The Girl Who Played with Fire-Movie release in Canada
      Comments : 14
      Last comment by Tom in Malmo 07 October 2009.
      Started by : Véronique in Montréal 05 October 2009
    • How can I watch the second movie?
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by Christopher Marcus in Copenhagen 15 November 2009.
      Started by : 14 November 2009
    • American film
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by Michelle in Amsterdam 21 January 2010.
      Started by : 18 October 2009
    • Film 1 released in Brazil
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by Aliz in Sao Paulo 02 December 2009.
      Started by : Barda in Sao Paulo 15 October 2009
    • dvd with english subtitles
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by KL in Utah 24 November 2009.
      Started by : Jim Fox in Swansea 24 November 2009
    • Somebody watched the third movie?
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by Christopher Marcus in Copenhagen 29 November 2009.
      Started by : 29 November 2009
    • English subtitles
      Comments : 8
      Last comment by KL in Utah 10 December 2009.
      Started by : Shirin Ross in Paris 09 December 2009
    • Hollywood goes Millenium?
      Comments : 18
      Last comment by Liza in berlin 16 December 2009.
      Started by : Kalle Bus 16 December 2009
    • “Tattoo” filming Oct 2010
      Comments : 39
      Last comment by tay in flint 17 April 2010.
      Started by : l_rivers in Cottage Grove OR 01 April 2010
    • The MILLENIUM series?? !
      Comments : 13
      Last comment by Courtney in Indianapolis 10 June 2010.
      Started by : wasteinyourspace in Manchester 31 May 2010
    • How the Dragon Tattoo remake starts
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Linda 16 August 2010.
      Started by : hellodollyllama in Baltimore 11 August 2010
    • What did the man get tattooed
      Comments : 17
      Last comment by admin 23 July 2010.
      Started by : Dr. Talotta in Olympia 22 July 2010
    • Who you think can star as the characters in the US version of the 2nd and 3rd book?
      Comments : 26
      Last comment by vance Meyer in Highlands Ranch 02 November 2012.
      Started by : Zee in QC 28 October 2012
    • US “She Played With Fire”
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by henrythompson in chatsworth 12 November 2012.
      Started by : Leo in Cottage Grove 24 August 2012
    • TGWTDT – The end
      Comments : 10
      Last comment by T in Somewhere… 11 March 2012.
      Started by : G. in Cape 02 October 2023
    • American movie question?
      Comments : 16
      Last comment by polapoi in chicago 11 March 2012.
      Started by : Wasp in Virginia 02 October 2023
    • What church?
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Xavier Dolan in Hamilton ON 01 March 2012.
      Started by : Xavier Dolan in Hamilton ON 02 October 2023
    • Swedish Or English?
      Comments : 17
      Last comment by Wen 01 March 2012.
      Started by : Nicolette in Tri-State Area 25 February 2012
    • millenium III song?
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by monika in praha 28 March 2014.
      Started by : dafas in mexico 25 February 2012
    • Compare Swedish and American films
      Comments : 22
      Last comment by cgcollier in Birmingham 05 January 2012.
      Started by : Heckler in Spb 05 January 2012
    • Noomi or Roonie?
      Comments : 60
      Last comment by cgcollier in Birmingahm 05 January 2012.
      Started by : Heckler in Saint-Petersburg 05 January 2012
    • Fincher will shoot sequels back to back!
      Comments : 10
      Last comment by will in somewhere in europe 01 January 2012.
      Started by : Michael in Louisiana 01 January 2012
    • american movie
      Comments : 18
      Last comment by Usmovers_02 in Goffstown NH 26 December 2011.
      Started by : charlotte in nowhere 25 December 2011
    • New trailer of “Girl” interesting but?
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by Glad to be prooved wrong in Main Street 13 October 2011.
      Started by : Leo Rivers in Cottage Grove 23 September 2011
    • The Stieg Larsson Trilogy DVD Boxed Set
      Comments : 0
      Last comment by 10 April 2011.
      Started by : Leo Rivers i Cottage Grove OR 25 February 2011
    • lyrics
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by admin 17 February 2011.
      Started by : Amira in ST.Petersburg 15 February 2011
    • Following traffic rules in Sweden
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by Byron in Melbourne Vic 31 January 2011.
      Started by : Dusko Milic in Ljubljana 27 January 2011
    • The New Lisbeth – What do you think?
      Comments : 35
      Last comment by AT in Stockhom 17 January 2011.
      Started by : Leo Rivers in Cottage Grove 15 January 2011
    • Anonymous emails threatening to Erika Berger
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by DJ Jablonski 07 December 2010.
      Started by : Laura in Barcelona(Spain) 06 December 2010
    • *for sale* 1st edition / advance readers copy – GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by Tim 09 January 2020.
      Started by : Alexandra 25 May 2019
    • Who is Lisbeth’s father?
      Comments : 0

      Started by : Mary Clifford 21 February 2019
    • Mistake in Book 1?
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by Camila Jimenez 05 April 2019.
      Started by : Andreas Hage 25 July 2018
    • Sven-Ingvars
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Hasse in Avesta 25 March 2009.
      Started by : castilho in São Paulo 02 October 2023
    • Family Tree
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by Graham Thomas in Mt.Gambier 06 June 2009.
      Started by : Zoe in California 08 April 2009
    • Coffee
      Comments : 44
      Last comment by LoLukoke 10 October 2009.
      Started by : Linda in Holland 04 October 2009
    • Real things in the books
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by Sicko in Sicko Land ^^ 07 January 2010.
      Started by : Emil in Denmark 05 January 2010
    • Entropic chaos factor
      Comments : 4
      Last comment by chris from sallysfriends.net in Copenhagen 27 October 2009.
      Started by : aelli12 27 October 2009
    • Pistols and revolvers
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by Rob in Zugdidi 06 November 2009.
      Started by : John in Geneva 13 October 2009
    • TV episodes?
      Comments : 11
      Last comment by wasteinyourspace in Manchester 09 July 2010.
      Started by : barda in são paulo 07 July 2010
    • 2 technical questions
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by Ragnar in Stockholm 20 March 2010.
      Started by : leo rivers in cottage grove 02 April 2010
    • UK versus US audiobooks (Hornets Nest)
      Comments : 12
      Last comment by Juan Agraz in Mexico City 10 June 2011.
      Started by : Joyous in London 06 June 2011
    • Loose ends
      Comments : 11
      Last comment by Steveegide in Brooklyn 04 January 2011.
      Started by : Andrew Situ in Fremantle 13 December 2010
    • A 60 minute Christmas Special
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by DJ Jablonski in Bratt 18 December 2010.
      Started by : l_rivers in Cottage Grove 04 December 2010
    • Sweddish pronunciation
      Comments : 0

      Started by : FLOYD tRUSKOT 5 September 2017
    • English translation
      Comments : 101
      Last comment by Andres 22 September 2008.
      Started by : Editor in Stockholm 17 November 2008
    • Deutsche Uebersetzung
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Fabian in Cologne 12 March 2009.
      Started by : Maike in London 08 January 2009
    • Auf Deutsch
      Comments : 11
      Last comment by Stefan Hoffmann in Wuppertal 08 December 2008.
      Started by : Walter Silkeit in The Hague 06 December 2008
    • Spanish translation is very bad too.
      Comments : 4
      Last comment by lisbeth salander in USA 19 June 2009.
      Started by : teresaruiz@berritzeguneak.net in Bilbao 12 February 2009
    • Greek translation
      Comments : 4
      Last comment by Anthi in Athens 08 September 2009.
      Started by : E. Pina in Athens 19 August 2009
    • The Third Book in Swedish or Norwegian?
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by KJ in Cinci 03 September 2009.
      Started by : Steve Anderson in Menomonie 15 August 2009
    • Are there Russian translations?
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by L E 23 November 2009.
      Started by : Mirage in Reno 22 November 2009
    • Dutch translation
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by Petra in Enschede 08 October 2009.
      Started by : ana dewinter in gent 27 September 2009
    • Translation into Spanish
      Comments : 9
      Last comment by admin 20 September 2009.
      Started by : Maricruz in Quito 20 September 2009
    • Original Swedish versions?
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by Simon in Stockholm 15 February 2012.
      Started by : Mikael/Lisbeth FOREVER in Teaneck 12 February 2012
    • Spanish Translation
      Comments : 5
      Last comment by Juan in Sevilla 26 June 2011.
      Started by : DJ in Madrid 26 June 2011
    • Is there a 4th book?
      Comments : 91
      Last comment by Angela in Hengelo Nederland 21 February 2009.
      Started by : Vicente-Curitiba/Brazil in Curitiba – Brazil 20 February 2009
    • a petition
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by chris from sallysfriends.net in Copenhagen 24 October 2009.
      Started by : Salander fanatic in salander ville 16 October 2009
    • Any news about the 4th and 5th book?
      Comments : 29
      Last comment by V.B. in Canada 27 August 2009.
      Started by : Adriana in Milan 26 August 2009
    • Eva, be strong
      Comments : 3
      Last comment by Roy Bosma in Roermond 22 January 2010.
      Started by : Susan in Colorado 19 January 2010
    • 4 th book
      Comments : 7
      Last comment by Reen in Cape Town 27 January 2010.
      Started by : Geoff in Oswestry 23 January 2010
    • Announced 4th book by Logercrantz
      Comments : 2
      Last comment by turtle in California 24 October 2014.
      Started by : 21 October 2014
    • Future Life for Lisbeth
      Comments : 18
      Last comment by admin 30 January 2012.
      Started by : HP Lovecat in Syracuse 30 January 2012
    • Hornets nest ebook?
      Comments : 6
      Last comment by chris from sallysfriends.net in Copenhagen 24 October 2009.
      Started by : Mike S(UK) in Guisborough 17 October 2009
    • The Girl with the Dragon Tatyoo
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by Cindy in St. Louis MO 07 October 2013.
      Started by : Cindy in Saint Louis MO 03 April 2013
    • Uncategorized
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by kh in vermont 03 February 2015.
      Started by : Cindy i St. Louis MO 02 October 2023
    • czech books
      Comments : 1
      Last comment by Richard Turerk in Toronto 30 December 2011.
      Started by : Jacob Bukacek in Oakville 08 December 2011

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