Now almost exclusively known as the author of the bestselling Trilogy, as a professional journalist Stieg Larsson was an untiring crusader for democracy and equality. As a reporter and editor-in-chief on the journal Expo he researched the extreme right both in Sweden and at an international level.
Collected here for the first time are essays and articles on right-wing extremism and racism, on violence against women and women’s rights, on homophobia and honour killings.
Included also is an account written for Vagabond magazine of his travels aboard the Trans-Siberian Express from Moscow to Beijing.
His most important writings – perceptive, learned and committed texts – illustrate the breadth of his journalistic and political activities in connection with matters that were closest to his heart, and to which he devoted his life.
Despite death threats and financial difficulties, Larsson never ceased to fight for and write about his most firmly held principles; it was his commitment to these which gave his best-selling novels their explosive force.
Check out our amazing interactive flipbook and check out the new Girl with the Dragon Tattoo site for more!
Twitter has often brought good things my way but on a blustery Monday morning when I spotted a Tweet newly arrived from Quercus, I thought that winning their tickets to the world premiere of ‘Girl With A Dragon Tattoo’ was a long shot.
However, being a Daniel Craig fan here was an opportunity too good to miss and I hurriedly posted a comment on their Facebook page. After much badgering (I’m sure they were sick of me by then) I was told I had two tickets.
Wow! What to wear? OH had to leave work instantly and childcare arranged but we threw ourselves together in time to make it to Leicester Square.
Neither of us had been to anything like this before and the excitement was palpable. Walking along the red carpet with a sea of people crammed against the railings and bulbs flashing is quite disorientating and security is tight.
We arrived a little too early to see any stars of the film outside, but once in our luxurious cinema seats we could watch the interviews with them live on screen. Ushers even circulate amongst the seats offering refreshments, more like at the theatre.
We purchased popcorn (half the price it is normally at Odeon cinemas oddly) and tried to inconspicuously crane our necks to see if Daniel (I was on first name terms now in my head) would be sitting nearby.
It seemed that most people in the audience were either in the film, had made it, or were hardened seasoned premiere-goers, none of whom seemed as overwhelmed as we were.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed the film, having seen the original Swedish trilogy only a couple of months ago I thought I would be disappointed with this version.
However it stuck close in style and content with only one or two ‘Hollywood’ moments creeping in and I found it just as enthralling despite knowing the plot. Craig plays a brilliantly understated Mikael Blomkvist an investigative journalist who finds himself on the trail of a vicious serial killer, while Rooney Mara a slightly less convincing Lisbeth Salander.
She is less angular and wiry than Noomi Rapace, which gives her the impression of a softer character and although this doesn’t detract from this film in its own right, it loses something against the original.
Mara and Craig together pull off their odd relationship though. Stellan Skarsgård also puts in a brilliant performance as one of the main suspects and the Swedish backdrop and weird sound effects add to the drama.
All in all a wonderful night out and a huge thank you to Quercus!
- Lisa Feighery, Competition Winner
A huge thank you from us must also go to Mute Records for giving us the tickets as a prize.
Well everyone, the run up to the release of the film version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is upon us and we have some incredible prizes to give away in the next few weeks.
Thanks to our friends at Mute Records, the label which is releasing Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’s amazing soundtrack, we are able to start today with a last minute pair of tickets to the premiere!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you and a friend to rub shoulders with the stars at tonight’s premiere in the Leicester Square Odeon Cinema.
Now, there are a few conditions:
Both the winner and their guest MUST be 18 years of age or over
Both of you must be able to be outside the cinema by 18:00 tonight
There is a Smart dress code
So, if you are eligible to enter, and would like to go just write in the comments box on the Stieg Larsson Trilogy Facebook page. First person to write in wins, it’s that simple!
To watch the extended eight minute trailer for free and download the soundtrack head on over to iTunes and pre-order the CD from amazon
Good luck everyone and keep your eyes on the Facebook page from now on as there are plenty more amazing prizes coming very soon.
