Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Books
English-language books on Sweden are remarkably scant. Although Swedish
publishing houses are producing quality titles - particularly fiction -
remarkably few find their way into English. Books marked
Ì
are particularly
recommended.
HISTORY AND POLITICS
Sheri Berman
The Social Democrat Movement
. A
comparison between the Swedish and German social
democratic systems between World War I and World War II.
Whilst Sweden placed itself at the forefront of the drive for
democratization after the Great Depression, Germany
lacked direction and opted for Hitler.
H.R. Ellis Davidson
The Gods and Myths of Northern
Europe
. This “Who's Who” of Norse mythology, which
includes some useful profiles of the more obscure gods,
displaces the classical deities and their world as the most
relevant mythological framework for northern and western
European culture.
Eric Elstob
Sweden: A Traveller's History
. An introduction
to Swedish history from the year dot to the twentieth
century, with useful chapters on art, architecture and
cultural life.
Bridget Morris
St Birgitta of Sweden
. A comprehensive
and intelligently researched book offering a rounded
perspective on Sweden's first female saint and her
extraordinary life. Accessible and educational without
being over-academic in approach.
Lee Miles
Sweden and European Integration
. A political
history of Sweden comparing the period 1950-66 with the
accession to the European Union in 1995.
Michael Roberts
The Early Vasas: A History of Sweden
1523-1611
. A clear account of the period. Complements
the same author's
Gustavus Adolphus and the Rise of
Sweden
and
The Age of Liberty: Sweden 1719-1772
, which,
more briefly and enthusiastically, covers the period from
1612 to Gustav's death in 1632.
Franklin Daniel Scott
Sweden, The Nation's History
. A
good all-round account of Sweden's history from a poor,
backward warrior nation to the prosperous modern one of
today.
Jan-Öjvind Swahn
Maypole, Crayfish and Lucia - Swedish
Holidays and Traditions
. This little edition is superbly
written and informative about how and why Swedish
traditions have evolved. In contrast to the pictures, the
prose is historically accurate and both entertaining and
frank about what makes Sweden tick.
ART, ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
Ì
Henrik O. Andersson and Fredric Bedoire
Swedish Architecture 1640-1970
. With superb colour
plates, this is the definitive survey of the subject, with
parallel English/Swedish text.
Katrin Cargill
Creating the Look: Swedish Style
. A great
book to help you create cheerful Swedish peasant
interiors. Includes lots of evocative photographs by
Christopher Drake and a long list of stockists of the
materials you'll need. A practical guide, the topic
includes some background information to place the
designs in context.
Görel Cavalli-Björkman and Bo Lindwall
The World of
Carl Larsson
. A charming and brilliantly illustrated volume,
charting the life and work of one of Sweden's most admired
painters.
Barbro Klein and Mats Widbom
Swedish Folk Art
. A
lavishly illustrated and richly documented history of its
subject, relating ancient crafts to modern-day design ideas.
Mereth Lindgren, Louise Lyberg, Birgitta
Sandström and Anna Greta Wahlberg
A History of
Swedish Art
. A fine overview of Swedish painting, sculpture
and, to a lesser extent, architecture, from the Stone Age to
the present. Clear text and good, mostly monochrome,
illustrations.
Ì
Nils-Olof Olsson
Skåne
Through The Artist's Eye
. A
likeable, cleverly balanced illustrated book encompassing
everything from the prehistoric to the present day in its
coverage of the country's southernmost province. Steering
clear of the usual demarcations in art history, it shows how
much contemporary artwork can help with our
understanding of history.
Ì
Håkan Sandbring & Martin Borg
Skåne
-
Wide
Horizons
. A glorious visual study of Skåne - the ultimate
coffee-table tome for anyone who loves the sort of beauty at
which Sweden excels. From country scenes to urban visions
and all the quirks of Swedish life in between, these brilliantly
hued photographs will keep you absorbed for hours.
Lars Sjöberg and Ursula Sjöberg
The Swedish Room
.
An exceptionally well-documented journey through
developments in the design of Swedish homes, covering
the period from 1640 through to the nineteenth century
(stopping short of National Romanticism, Art Nouveau and
