Daniel (Mankell novel)

Daniel (Mankell novel)
Daniel  
Daniel (novel).jpg
Author(s) Henning Mankell
Translator Steven T. Murray
Country Sweden
Language Swedish, English translation
Genre(s) Fiction
Publisher Harvill Secker
Publication date 2000 (orig.) 2010 (trans.)
Media type Print (Hardcover, Paperback)
ISBN 1595581936

Daniel is a novel by Swedish writer Henning Mankell first published in Swedish in 2000 under the title Vindens son (Son of the wind). The English translation by Steven T. Murray was published in September 2010.[1]

Plot

The story is set in 1874. Hans Bengler is an entomologist from Skåne, Sweden who is studying at Lund University and decides to go on an expedition on his own to the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa to find insects new to science and thereby to make a name for himself. After a long and arduous journey by sea to Cape Town and then in the desert he arrives at a trading post run by an expatiate Swede which Bengler decides to make the base for his explorations.

Whilst at the trading post he comes across a small boy, called Molo, who was the sole survivor of his extended family all of whom had been brutally killed by men on horseback with spears and rifles, some who were white and some who were black. He is taken to the trading post where he was put in a cage to be bartered in exchange for provisions. Bengler decides to rescue the boy adopting him as his son. Not knowing his name Bengler decides to call him Daniel. Bengler sets himself the challenge, as he sees it, of civilising the young savage boy. The two of them journey back to Sweden. Daniel initially seeks to escape but over time grows to accept Bengler as his new father who begins to learn to speak Swedish and adopt some basic European customs, though still recalling the aspects of his African culture and beliefs he had been taught. On board ship and on arrival in Stockholm Daniel is treated with curiosity and disdain and experiences some racial abuse. Bengler decides to gain notoriety and earn a living by displaying and giving lectures on his exhibits, stored in glass jars. However, noticing the great interest the public had displayed in Daniel he decides to include him as a surprise exhibit in his lectures.

After a serious incident father and son are forced to flee hiding their tracks to avoid being pursued. Bengler hands Daniel over to an elderly farmer and his wife in Småland to look after as he decides to disappear, promising to return in time. Daniel finds he is not welcomed into the deeply religious close-knit rural community. He becomes more and more homesick and has increasingly disturbing dreams about his mother and other family members. He befriends a young girl called Sanna whose unusual behaviour has resulted in her being ostracised by local people and is abused by her adopted father. After making one unsuccessfully attempt to make his way home, subsequently, Daniel and Sanna set off together to find a ship to take them both to Africa. Their adventure ends with the two friends arguing and returning home with events spiralling out of control with a sequence of disastrous consequences.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b Daniel summary on Random House website Retrieved 22 December 2010

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Daniel (disambiguation) — Daniel refers to two Biblical figures. The central character of the Book of Daniel, traditionally believed to be also its author. Another Daniel is mentioned in Ezekiel 14:4 20 and 28:3. Unlike the other Daniel, who would have been a younger… …   Wikipedia

  • Daniel (novel) — Daniel which is the name of a novel may refer to: Daniel (Adams novel) a book first published in 2006 by Richard Adams Daniel (Mankell novel) a book first published in 2007 by Henning Mankell This disambiguation page lists articles associated… …   Wikipedia

  • Novel — For other uses, see Novel (disambiguation). Not to be confused with Novell. New novels in a Oldenburg bookshop, February 2009 …   Wikipedia

  • Henning Mankell — For the composer (1868–1930), see Henning Mankell (composer). Henning Mankell Mankell in New York in 2011 Born February 3, 1948 (1948 02 03) (age  …   Wikipedia

  • Michael Nyqvist — Nyqvist in Stockholm, November 2009 Born Rolf Åke Michael Nyqvist November 8, 1960 (1960 11 08) (age 51) Stockholm …   Wikipedia

  • Detective fiction — Detective story redirects here. For other uses, see Detective Story. Detective fiction is a sub genre of crime fiction and mystery fiction in which an investigator (often a detective), either professional or amateur, investigates a crime, often… …   Wikipedia

  • Trophees 813 — Trophées 813 Les Trophées 813 sont des prix littéraires récompensant des romans policiers. Sommaire 1 Association 813 2 Catégories 2.1 Catégories en cours 2.2 Anciennes catégories …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Trophée 813 — Trophées 813 Les Trophées 813 sont des prix littéraires récompensant des romans policiers. Sommaire 1 Association 813 2 Catégories 2.1 Catégories en cours 2.2 Anciennes catégories …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Trophées 813 — Les Trophées 813 sont des prix littéraires récompensant des romans policiers. Sommaire 1 Association 813 2 Catégories 2.1 Catégories en cours 2.2 Anciennes catégories …   Wikipédia en Français

  • List of best-selling books — This is an incomplete list, which may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries. This page provides lists of best selling single volume books and book series to date …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”