Sleet

by Stig Dagerman, Steven Hartman (Translator)

"I stick my knife in its sheath and head out to the yard. I look out on the road to see if the car's coming, but it's still way too early. Next I go over to the gate and carve my name in the wood. I'll never forget this day when we were chopping carrots, when it was raining and the rain turned to sleet, and when the Aunt from America was coming here to stay."

Stig Dagerman (b. 1923 in Älvkarleby, d. 1954), was one of the most prominent Swedish authors in the aftermath of World War II. During 1945-49 he enjoyed phenomenal success writing novels, short stories, plays, poems and a large amount of journalism. His work deals predominantly with the universal problems of morality and conscience, of sexuality and social philosophy, and of love, compassion and justice. Despite the somewhat sombre content, he displays a wry sense of humour that occasionally turns his writing into burlesque or satire.
In the autumn of 1954, Stig Dagerman was found dead. However, his existential texts transcend time and place and continue to be widely published in Sweden, as well as abroad.

Sleet is one of four books with short stories by Sweden's most beloved authors: Astrid Lindgren, August Strindberg, Selma Lagerlöf and Stig Dagerman. A quartet of classic Swedish literature!

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, Swedish Literature, Classics

27 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 2015

About the author

Stig Dagerman was one of the most prominent Swedish authors during the 1940s. In the course of five years, 1945-49, he enjoyed phenomenal success with four novels, a collection of short stories, a book about postwar Germany, five plays, hundreds of poems and satirical verses, several essays of note and a large amount of journalism. Then, with apparent suddenness, he fell silent. In the fall of 1954, Sweden was stunned to learn that Stig Dagerman, the epitome of his generation of writers, had been found dead in his car: he had closed the doors of the garage and run the engine.

Dagerman's works deal with universal problems of morality and conscience, of sexuality and social philosophy, of love, compassion and justice. He plunges into the painful realities of human existence, dissecting feelings of fear, guilt and loneliness. Despite the somber content, he also displays a wry sense of humor that occasionally turns his writing into burlesque or satire.

Reviews

[John Hatley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best translations I’ve read recently. I think translator Steven Hartman deserves a word of thanks and recognition. It is such a compact story essentially about one day in the life of a nine-year-old boy on a farm in Sweden. And of course Stig Dagerman’s original, which I have also read is superb.

[Mikie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hur kan så lite ändå få mig att känna så pass mycket?

[Annika Kronberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stig Dagerman mitt ständiga dåliga samvete

[Emma Lindhagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much more poignant story than I expected, particularly because it's told through the perspective of a young child. And a lovely little edition, too.

[Sophie Haggarty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Så konstigt. Men så hjärtskärande ???

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of family drama, observed as first person by an unknown member of the family describing the environment and surrounding acts as they all await a relative from America to arrive.
Hard to grasp at first. But as the relative arrives and interacts with the narrator, you understand the philosophy of the story and the concept it tries to bring.
A good and pretty conclusion but in the midst of the book it didn’t really give much excitement. You sort of had to expect a climax in order not to question the story, but it was done well

[John Hatley · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this very skillfully written short story, Stig Dagerman describes a memorable event in the life of a nine-year-old boy.

[Annasara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Som en liten titt bak i tiden. Osäker på vad eller om författaren vill säga något, eller bara visa människor i en tid. Fint avslut mellan faster och berättaren som möts i deras förlust.

[Coki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finstämt och sorgligt.

[Jirsad · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's pleasant to read sometimes something that's about the ambiance and general feeling of the chracters rather than the actual events.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just lovely.

[Solveig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Välskriven men konstig novell

[Lore · Rating 3 out of 5]

From my background, I come from Belgium, I found it very interesting to get a glimpse into a history of Sweden about 100 years ago. Many similarities can be found between countries, especially in how people approach each other, communication, patriarchy, social inequality, emigration from family to America. But also differences. About 100 years ago I feel that my country was much more conservative religious, the religion dictated all life. While the afternoon clocks greetings in Sweden was a habit that was already outdated in the late 1800s, I know that my great -grandmother still did this in the 1930s. Furthermore, it felt refreshing to read a book that took place in the year 1942 that was not dominated by the Second World War. This makes me wonder about if not all wars are a collective trauma all over Europe, but that history differs per country, even if we talk about a global event.

[Abi Pellinor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another teeny tiny review again today! I actually read this book and the last book that I reviewed on the same day in the same sitting. When they're so small why not?! This one is slightly larger at 27 pages *gasp* but still a short and sweet translation from the original Swedish.

This is a sweet little story where we see through the eyes of a young boy as a family member who left to live in the USA comes back to visit. There are a lot of family tensions which the boy we're following doesn't quite understand, but can definitely feel. It's a really interesting little dive into how children perceive tension and I really enjoyed it!

I think this is such a sweet, short read, and I'm totally up for reading more from the author in the future!

[trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved all the chaos that happened in such a small book

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short story Swedish classic.

[Elin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made me laugh. Funny and nice.

[Simon]

Swedish short story number 2 done. This one was a snapshot into a family's life in rural Sweden in the first half of the 20th century.

[Lena Westman - Lenas böcker och annant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Första bekantskapen med författaren. Ganska trevlig berättelse trots att jag hade aningen svårt med hur han använde språket.

[Sara Petersson · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 men avrundar neråt!

[Sara Edin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kort, bra, grät t.o.m. i slutet

[Lilly Löfgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5⭐️

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great slice of life, masterfully crafted to feel bigger than the few pages it actually is.

[Linnéa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bra skriven!

[Rebecka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kort välskriven. Gav mersmak på just den historien och på Stig Dagerman.