The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2005) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Characters edit see section history

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• Mikael Blomkvist: Journalist, 42 years old, one of the three initial owners of the Millennium magazine. An investigative business reporter who exposes corruption and fraud in Swedish business until he is found guilty of libeling Hans-Erik Wennerstrom. This precipitates his decision to leave journalism and work for Henrik Vanger on the disappearance of his neice, with the help of Lisbeth Salander.
• Lisbeth Salander: The girl with the dragon tattoo. 24 years old, Hacker, feminist, researcher and freelance surveillance agent who carries out security checks for Milton Security and later the research assistant to Mikael Blomkvist. A complex character with a photographic memory. Considered intellectually impaired by the Swedish state. A computer genius who likes having unknown friends as much as she hates known enemies. Pale, short, incredibly small, Jet-black hair, multiple piercings and multiple tattoos.
• Henrik Vanger: Retired Swedish industrialist and patriarch of the Vanger family. Former CEO of Vanger Corporation His obsession with the mystery of his niece's disappearance thirty-six years earlier sets off the main action of the novel.
• Harriet Vanger: Great-niece of Henrik, daughter of Gottfried and Isabella and Martin's sister. She vanished 36 years ago, aged sixteen. The mystery surrounding her disappearance is the core of the novel.
• Martin Vanger: Brother of Harriet and son of Gottfried and Isabella, as well as CEO of the Vanger corporation. A very affable and charming man.
• Erika Berger: Editor in chief and majority owner of the Millennium magazine. She is married and a good friend and part-time lover of Mikael Blomkvist; sometimes referred to by Blomkvist as "Ricky".
• Advokat Nils Bjurman: Lisbeth's second court-appointed legal guardian.
• Dirch Frode: Henrik Vanger's lawyer and confidante, former lawyer for the Vanger corporation.
• Cecilia Vanger: Cousin of Harriet Vanger. Headmistress of a local school. Daughter of Harald Vanger, and sister of Anita. 56 years old. Part-time lover of Blomkvist.
• Dragan Armansky: Lisbeth Salander's kind boss. Manages Milton Security, a major private security firm.
• Gustaf Morell: Retired Detective Superintendent of Stockholm. The disappearance of Harriet Vanger troubles and displeases him after 30 years. He is a real gem in police department. Purely dedicated to his job.
• Gottfried Vanger: Nephew of Henrik Vanger, and former executive of the Vanger Corporations. Father of Harriet and Martin Vanger, married to Isabella Vanger.
• Harald Vanger: Barely appears in the novel. The very elderly brother of Henrik Vanger and father of Cecilia and Anita. A Nazi ghost from Sweden's past that most would like to believe never existed.
• Hans-Erik Wennerström: Swedish industrialist involved in illegal activities and exposed by Blomkvist
• Isabella Vanger: The self-centered alcoholic mother of Harriet and Martin Vanger. She opposes Blomkvist's presence in Hedeby.
• Birger Vanger: Cecilia and Anita's brother. His growing opposition to Blomkvist makes him a suspect in Harriet's disappearance.
• Christer Malm: Director, art-designer and part owner of the Millennium magazine.
• Janne Dahlman: Add a description of this character.
• Anita Vanger: Sister of Cecilia Vanger and friend of the youthful Harriet. She has lived most of her life in London.
• Advokat Holger Palmgren: Lisbeth's avuncular court-appointed legal guardian and mentor. Instrumental in Salander gaining a job with Milton.
• Otto Falk: Lutheran pastor of Hedeby, last person known to have seen Harriet Vanger before she disappeared. When Blomkvist visits him, he's in the throes of Alzheimer's, but can remember Harriet quite well.
• Jeff Cochran
• William Borg: He was a financial section cub reporter who regards Blomkvist as his enemy.
• Plague: May also be known as Svensson. Genius, computer hacker, 6'2", 330 lbs, hygiene-challenged, socially incompetent, lives alone. Works with Salander. He seldom leaves apartment.
• Miriam Wu: "Mimi" Lisbeth's sometime girlfriend.
• Gunnar Björck: Good guy!
• Monica Figuerola: Police Officer
• Ronald Niedermann
• Malin Eriksson: An employee at Millennium.
• Anita Cochran: Alias of Harriet Vanger
• Anders Zorn
• Hans Faste
• Eva Hassel
• Otto Hallberg
• Robert Lindberg
• Niklas Adamsson
• Evert Gullberg
• Bertil K. Janeryd
• Dr Jesper H. Löderman
• Carl Bildt
• Daniel Olsson
• Jerker Holmberg
• Fredrik Vanger: One of the original Vanger brothers who started in the industry.
• Hans-Åke Waltari
• Arnold Magnusson
• Anders Berglund
• Frank Ellis
• Martina Karlgren
• Johan Vanger: Vanger Corporation
• Viktor Göransson
• Herr Hansson
• Sebastian Strandlund
• Ulrika Vanger
• Sara Witt
• Cilla Norén
• Pernilla Abrahamsson
• Greger Beckman
• Lea Persson
• Magda Lovisa Sjöberg: Murder victim
• Spencer Cochran: Husband of Anita Cochran
• Anna Nygren
• Rakel Lunde
• Monika Nilsson
• Henry Cortez
• Henning Forsman
• Gerda Vanger
• Alexandre Vangeersad
• Susanne Linder
• Irene Nesser
• Hermann Lobach
• Richard Vanger
• Monica Abrahamsson
• Per Engdahl
• Margareta Strandh
• Kurt Nylund
• Rebecka Jacobsson
• Magnus Nilsson
• Sonny Nieminen
• Lovisa Sjöberg
• Jerker Aronsson
• Greger Vanger
• Sara Sjögren
• Gunnar Nilsson
• Alexander Vanger
• Gustav Aronsson
• Mildred Berggren
• Curt Andersson
• Helena Nilsson
• Ingrid Vanger
• Edith Lobach
• Mildred Brännlund
• Eva Carlsson
• Kungsholmen
• Lillian Josefsson
• Tomi Nikolich
• Wasp
• Paolo Roberto: Famous boxer. Used to spar with Lisbeth at the gym.
• Peter Sarowsky
• Miro Nikolich
• Albert Shenke
• Lottie Karim
• Norr Mälarstrand
• Gunnar Karlman
• Ragnhild Gustavsson
• Peter Fredriksson
• Jonas Sandberg
• Jeremy Stuart MacMillan
• Katarina Holm
• Ebbe Carlsson
• Inspector Paulsson
• Hans von Rottinger
• Hans Wilhelm Francke
• Idris Ghidi
• Magge Lundin
• Göran Mårtensson
• Stig Wennerström
• Ulrika von Liebenstaahl
• Sten Andersson
• Otto Danielsson
• Mia Johansson
• Torsten Edklinth
• Agneta Jervas
• Sonny Bohman
• Gunnar Magnusson
• Daniel Mogren
• David Rosin
• Erik Magnusson
• Stefan Bladh
• Dr Anders Jonasson
• Dr Jesper H. Löderman
• Judge Jörgen Iversen
• Jan Bublanski
• Judge Iverson
• Herr Zalachenko
• Johan Fräklund
• Sonja Modig
• Martina Fransson
• Hallvigs Reklam
• Magnus Sjögren
• Dag Svensson
• Carina Spångberg
• Tage Erlander
• Gunnar Ingemarsson
• Dr Johannes Caldin
• Reg Keeland
• Monica Sholes
• Mari Holmberg
• Sven Olof Lindholm
• Fru Lindgren
• Sonny Magnusson
• Isabella Koenig
• Lena Andersson
• Liv Gustavsson
• Assar Brännlund
• Val McDermid
• Trinity
• Eugen Norman
• Milton Security
• Herr Hasselmann
• Peter Sarowsky
• J. F. Milton
• Mimmi
• Josef
• Skellefteå
• Burman
• Sofia
• Herr Wagner
• Adolfsson
• Herr Torsson
• Fröken Blomberg
• Hedestad Courier
• Harriet Ulrika VANGER
• Kalle Blomkvist
• Herr Frode
• Herr Bjurman
• Östergården
• Herr Palmgren
• Järnvägsgatan
• Hitler
• Fröken Salander
• Pettersson
• Fröken Nilsson
• xii
• Astrid Lindgren
• Minos
• Carl Mikael Blomkvist
• Norsjö Snickerifabrik
• Fröken Berger
• Herr Armansky
• bush
• Hedeby
• Herr Vanger

Quotes edit see section history

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• “Mikael Blomkvist: What has happened to you? How did you turn out this way? You know everything about me. I don't know shit about you. Not a damn thing. Lisbeth Salander: That's the way it is.”

  Mikael Blomkvist and Lisbeth Salander

• “"Sex has nothing to do with friendship. Sure friends can have sex, but if I had to choose between sex and friendship when it comes to you, there's no doubt which I would pick."”

  Mikael Blomkvist

• “Keep it in mind that I'm crazy, won't you?”

  Lisbeth Salander

• “What she had realized was that love was that moment when your heart was about to burst.”

  Lisbeth Salander

• “Every family had a few skeletons in their cupboards, but the Vanger family had an entire gallimaufry of them.”

  Mikael Blomkvist

• “Then I discovered that being related is no guarantee of love!”

  Henrik Vanger

• “Normally seven minutes of another person's company was enough to give her a headache so she set things up to live as a recluse. She was perfectly content as long as people left her in peace. Unfortunately society was not very smart or understanding.”

  Description of Lisbeth Salander

• “Cortez looked like someone newly in love, the way only twenty-four-year-olds can look.”

• “In the evening he went to the cinema to see "The Lord of the Rings", which he had never before had time to see. He thought that orcs, unlike human beings, were simple and uncomplicated creatures.”

  Mikael Blomkvist

• “The media have the ability to attract the craziest people to call in perfectly absurd tips. Every newsroom in the world gets updates from UFOlogists, graphologists, scientologists, paranoiacs, and every sort of conspiracy theorist.”

• “I've had many enemies over the years. If there is one thing I've learned, it's never engage in a fight you're sure to lose. On the other hand, never let anyone who has insulted you get away with it. Bide you're time and strike back when you're in a position of strength - even if you no longer need to strike back.”

• “Everyone has secrets. It's just a matter of finding out what they are.”

  Lisbeth Salander

• “Kill them all and let God sort them out.”

  (print on Lisbeth Salander's t-shirt)

• “The Stock Exchange is something very different. There is no economy and no production of goods and services. There are only fantasies in which people from one hour to the next decide that this or that company is worth so may billions, more or less. It doesn't have a thing to do with reality, or with the.....economy.”

  Mikael Blomkvist

• “The truth was that she enjoyed digging into the lives of other people and exposing the secrets they were trying to hide.”

• “Friendship - my definition - is built on two things," he said. "Respect and trust. Both elements have to be there. And it has to be mutual. You can have respect for someone, but if you don't have trust, the friendship will crumble.”

  Mikael Blomkvist

• “She minded her own business and did not interfere with what anyone around her did. Yet there was always someone who absolutely would not leave her in peace.”

• “Good. So we’re singing from the same song sheet.”

  Lisbeth Salander

• “Hi. Great to see you. I thought you died or something.”

  Dragan Armansky

• “And if you lied about that, what else did you lie about?”

  Mikael Blomkvist

• “No, I don’t believe in God, but I respect the fact that you do. Everyone has to have something to believe in.”

  Mikael Blomkvist

• “When she was done, she slipped into her bedroom and put on jeans, and a T-shirt with a slogan ARMAGEDDON WAS YESTERDAY – TODAY WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM.”

• “In that case, it might amuse you to know that I also have principles comparable to your ethics committee’s. I call them Salander’s Principles. One of them is that a bastard is always a bastard, and if I can hurt a bastard by digging up shit about him, then he deserves it.”

  Lisbeth Salander

• “There’s always someone willing to believe malicious rumours.”

  Dirch Frode

• “Journalists who falsify materials are idiots.”

  Mikael Blomkvist

• “Don’t ever do anything for nothing.”

  Dragan Armansky

• “When she stopped, the silence was deafening.”

• “I’m a nut freak, I admit it: a freak.”

  Lisbeth Salander

• “You shouldn’t have sex with people you’re working with. It just leads to trouble.”

  Mikael Blomkvist

• “"Si el Sr. <Ildefonso> Martínez se hubiera tomado el trabajo de conocer a algún "falangista independiente", se habría dado cuenta de que no forman especie alguna. Ellos son, por más que le pese a muchos, la auténtica encarnación del pensamiento joseantoniano, que no es precisamente el del Movimiento. <...>”

• “Consequently, her only remaining option was to do what she had always done—take matters in her own hands and solve her problems on her own. That was definitely an option.And it did not bode well for Herr Advokat Nils Bjurman.”

• “She went around with the attitude that she would rather be beaten to death than take any shit.And she always got revenge.”

• “Being a homicide detective can be the loneliest job in the world. The friends of the victim are upset and in despair, but sooner or later—after weeks or months—they go back to their everyday lives. For the closest family it takes longer, but for the most part, to some degree, they too get over their grieving and despair. Life has to go on; it does go on. But the unsolved murders keep gnawing away and in the end there’s only one person left who thinks night and day about the victim: it’s the officer who’s left with the investigation.”

  Detective Superintendent Gustaf Morell

• “Salander never forgot an injustice, and she was anything but forgiving.”

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Hedeby Island: The main setting of the novel where most of the critical events occur. Owned almost entirely by the Vanger family, many of whom choose to live here. It is also from here that Harriet Vanger disappears.
• Stockholm: Capital of Sweden and home of the main characters. Here Milennium magazine and Milton Security have their offices. Blomkvist owns a co-op apartment in the desirable neighbourhood of Bellmansgatan.
• Hedestad: The town in Northern Sweden and the headquarters of the Vanger Corporation.
• Sandhamm: Village in Stocklom archipelago. Blomkvist has summer cabin, stuga, here.
• Susanne's Bridge Café: The cafe on Hedeby Island where Blomkvist spends much of his time.
• Ostergarden, Hedeby Island: Smallholding of Aronson family, not owned by Vanger clan. Family home to Gustav Aronsson, owned by his brother. Jerker Aronsson nephew of Gustav, same age as Harriet Vanger.
• Alice Springs, Australia: The Outback
• Skellefteå: A city and the seat of Skellefteå Municipality in Västerbotten County, Sweden.
• Årsta: Enskede-Årsta was a so called borough (stadsdelsområde) in the southern part of Stockholm, Sweden from 1998 to 1 January 2007.

Organizations edit see section history

• Millenium Magazine: The magazine owned by Blomkvist and Berger.
• The Vanger Corporation: A larger Swedish industrial consortium, experiencing hard times at the time the events in the novel take place but once a large and prosperous concern.
• The Wennerstrom Group of companies: The business empire of Hans-Erik Wennerström. A network of interlinked companies suspected of criminal activity by Blomkvist.
• The Hedestad Courier: The local newspaper in Hedestad. Its back-issues prove vital in solving the mystery of Harriet Vanger's disappearance.
• Milton Security: The large private security firm where Salander learns her trade and borrows the surveillance equipment she needs to carry out her schemes.
• National Criminal Police: Sweden national police.

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Glossary edit see section history

• Gallimaufry: A jumble, hodgepodge. From the French "galimafrée" ragout, hash, of unknown origin (Collins English Dictionary).
• Enmity: A state of deep-seated ill-will (Dictionary)."Maybe it was a question of chemistry, but the foundation had been laid there for a lifelong enmity." p. 15
• Gaol: A correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government. Either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence. verb)—lock up or confine, in or as in a jail (Dictionary). "Journalist Mikael Blomkvist of the magazine Millennium was sentenced this morning to 90 days in goal for aggravated libel of industrialist Hans-Erik Wennerstrom." p. 16
• Painter: A line that is attached to the bow of a boat and used for tying up, as when docking or towing (Dictionary). "Blomkvist climbed up on the railing and held out a hand for the painter." p. 20
• Subvention: The act or process of providing aid or help of any sort (Dictionary). "In practice, however, it meant that Swedish companies would get state subventions for going in and establishing themselves as part owners in companies in Eastern European countries." p. 22
• Speculation: An investment that is very risky but could yield great profits (Dictionary). "'Are you telling me that Skanska doesn't do speculation? Wasn't it their managing director who was fired after he let some of his boys speculate away half a billion in quick stock turnovers?'" p. 23
• Indemnification: A sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury (Dictionary). "Here the state guarantees kicked in, and Wennerstrom was indemnified." p. 26
• Quintessence: The most typical example or representative of a type (Dictionary). "She did not just seem difficult -- in his eyes she was the quintessence of difficult." p. 39
• Anathema: A detested person. A formal ecclesiastical curse (Dictionary). "She made coffee, went to the post office, and took care of the copying, but conventional office hours or work routines were anathema to her." p. 39
• Vouchsafe: Grant in a condescending manner (Dictionary). "After four years she had still vouchsafed hardly a detail about her private life or her background to Armansky." p. 47
• Avuncular: Resembling a uncle in kindness or indulgence (Dictionary). "There was a brief, embarrassed silence before Frode finally turned to Salander and tried to repair the damage by assuming a friendly, avuncular tone." p. 49
• Equivocal: Open to two or more interpretations (Dictionary). "'You couldn't get more equivocal, could you?'" p. 72
• Proselytise: Convert to another faith or religion (Dictionary). "'In his free time he travelled around and did proselytising for Nazism.'" p. 89
• Indolent: Disinclined to work or exertion Dictionary). "'If Richard personified the family's dark, fanatical side, Gottfried embodied the indolent one.'" p. 89
• Intimation: An indirect suggestion (Dictionary). "At the end of the hearing, Palmgren intimated that compulsory institutionalisation was in all probability not only contrary to Parliament's decisions in similar situations, but in this particular case it might in addition be the subject of poiltical and media reprisals." p. 161
• Invective: Abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will (Dictionary). "But without warning, a long way into the woods, he began to berate her with humiliating invective and revolting remarks about her morals and sexual predilections." p. 256
• Salvo: An outburst resembling the discharge of firearms or the release of bombs (Dictionary). "'But I'll make it clear now that Millennium will not be sunk with the first salvo.'" p. 266
• Importunate: Expressing earnest entreaty (Dictionary). "Blomkvist did not want to be importunate, so he waited a week before he went to her house." p. 294
• Scurrilous: Expressing offensive reproach (Dictionary). "The reporter, Torsson, had cobbled together a scurrilous piece." p. 384
• Vitriolic: Harsh or corrosive in tone (Dictionary). "'For me, it's also important that you absolutely understand that I have nothing whatsoever to do with this vitriolic attack.'" p 386
• Capitulate: Surrender under agreed conditions (Dictionary). "'Very Well,' Martin said. 'Then I'll shoot you in the kneecap.' He took aim. Blomkvist capitulated. He had no choice."
• Advokat: A professional title in Sweden for someone who has passed the bar association and practiced law for 5 years.
• Konor: Krona-basic unit of money in Swedenplural form of krona1 Krona = 6.7-6.8 US dollars1 krona divides into 100 ore.

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• Violence Against Women: This is a major theme throughout the Millennium Trilogy series.
• Feminism: This book explores a variety of types of women and situations common in the exploration and discussion of feminism.
• Revenge and redemption: The book constantly explores Salander's wishes to get even with those who have wronged her.

Series & Lists edit see section history

Followed by The Girl Who Played with Fire.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Stieg Larsson (Author)

Other Contributors:

1. Reg Keeland (Translator) - Translated the novel into English.

First Edition edit see section history

Awards edit see section history

• Exclusive Books Boeke Prize (South Africa) (2008)
• Amazon Best of the Month (September 2008)
• Duncan Lawrie International Dagger (Crime Writer's Association) (2008, Shortlist)
• NPR's Top Crime and Mystery Novels (2008)
• Library Journal Best Book (2008)
• Macavity Awards (2009: Best First Mystery)
• Anthony Award (October 2009: Best Cover Art)
• British Book Award (2009: Crime Thriller of the Year)
• Barry Award (Mystery/Crime Novel of the Decade)
• Anthony Award (Finalist, October 2009: First Novel)
• Glass Key Award (Best Crime Novel)
• Barry Award (2009: Best British Novel)

Classification edit see section history

• Library of Congress: PT9876.22.A6933 M3613
• Dewey: 839.738

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Very graphic and disturbing violence and sexual content, not recommended for young readers.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Thrillers › Suspense
• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary
• Books › Mystery & Thrillers › Mystery › Series
• Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › Scandinavian
• Books › Computers & Internet › Computer Science › Human-Computer Interaction
• Books › Computers & Internet › Security & Encryption › Forensics

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Stieg Larsson
• Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: Official website.
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Wikipedia Page

Movie Connections edit see section history

• Män som hatar kvinnor (2009) (IMDb): Swedish version with Subtitles
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2012) (IMDb): US Version

More Books Like This edit see section history

Books Cited by This Book edit see section history