“Nordic (Scandinavian) Noir” vs Scandinavian Detective: a Debatable Aspect of Study

Abstract

The phenomenon of “Nordic (Scandinavian) noir”, which has formed in the literature of Northern Europe in the last two decades, is studied. The author considers the works of Swedish, Danish, Norwegian prose writers and proves the insufficient legitimacy of their attribution to “noir”. The term noir is substantiated. Based on the analysis of the novels by S. Larsson, J. Nesbø, H. Flood, M. Lindstein, A. Mette Hancock, the relevance of the term detective in relation to the work of Norwegian, Swedish and Danish prose writers is stated. It has been established that the definition of “Scandinavian (Nordic) noir” is not applicable to any of the newest Scandinavian novels. In terms of genre, in fact, each of these works is a detective story that combines other genre elements. “Millennium” by S. Larsson, “The Snowman”, “Leopard”, “Redneck” by J. Nesbø, “Corpse Flower” by A. M. Hancock synthesize elements of a detective, family and social novel. “The Therapist” H. Flod is a synthesis of a psychological thriller and a detective story. “A sect from a misty island” by M. Lindsteen combines the properties of a gothic novel (a closed chronotope of a manor, which is an analogue of a castle chronotope; the presence of a villain hero who determines the plot deployment) and a psychological detective story (an investigating heroine who reconstructs the events of the past, relying on logic to solve the mystery and giving realistic motivation to what is happening).

Keywords

• noir
• detective
• modern scandinavian literature