The Red Room: Scenes from the Lives of Artists and Authors (Norvik Press Series B: English Translations of Scandinavian Literature) [Paperback]

August Strindberg (Author)

Book Description

Series: Norvik Press Series B: English Translations of Scandinavian Literature | Publication Date: January 13, 2010

Strindberg (1849-1912) is best known outside Sweden as a dramatist, but he was also a prolific writer of novels, short stories, essays, journalism and poetry-as well as a notable artist and photographer. Although he spent many years abroad, Strindberg was born, grew up and died in Stockholm. A satire of the rapidly changing society of the 1870s, The Red Room was Strindberg's first novel and marked his literary breakthrough. It contains some of the great set-piece scenes in Swedish literature, a gallery of unforgettable caricatures in the spirit of Dickens, humor, pathos, and satirical targets as apt now as they were then. The Red Room is often called Sweden's first modern novel, and it remains modern almost a century and a half later. ""[An] arresting work.""-Rain Taxi

Editorial Reviews

Review

'In the opening chapter, with its famous bird's-eye view of Stockholm, Strindberg's vivid prose sparkles with energy and invention. The hero of the novel, the young and idealistic Arvid Falk, resigns from the Civil Service in disgust at the corruption he sees everywhere in the Establishment. He wants to become a writer and joins a group of bohemian artists, but struggles to free himself from his own prim and puritan inclinations. [...] As so often in Strindberg, it is the tension between irreconcilable opposites that provides the narrative energy.' Ulf Dantanus, 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die '...a scathing attack on every aspect of modern life.' Rosalind Porter, '1000 Novels Everyone Must Read', The Guardian --The Guardian

'[An] arresting work.' --Rain Taxi

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Norvik Pr (January 13, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1870041828
• ISBN-13: 978-1870041829
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,380,115 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This is a scam, April 24, 2010

By 

J. Solomon (Dobbs Ferry, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Red Room (Paperback)

I bought this book thinking it was, well, the book. Actually, it is paper bound together with the words from a specially scanned copy of the book. The publisher aknowledges that some of the words may not be correct and it's filled with typos. They say it has to do with the fact that no editor is involved - it is merely a machine that reads text as best as it can. There's no preface, information about the author, etc. In fact, it's just basic text, much of it filled with typos.

The publisher says that this is how they can give you the book for such a low price. But at $13 for a paperback, I hardly think it's a bargain. Besides, I have no need for a book filled with typos and mistakes, even if it's free.