Recommendations of books written by Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf.

1. Let me talk to you about
Selma Lagerlöf
One of Sweden's greatest
authors.
First woman to win the Nobel
prize of literature.
Read her.
Even if you're not Swedish.
If you're Swedish, definitely
read her.
Some of her stuff is available
at Project Gutenberg. Not all.
She wrote a shitload of books
in different genres (usually with
a touch of the supernatural).
So where to start?

2. If you want
a QUICK TASTE before you go on
Listen I get it.
You don't want to commit to too much.
Luckily for you, she's written lots of short stories.
I recommend The Changeling.
It's a fairy tale
with a layer of psychologically realistic characterisation.
How would you react if your child was replaced with a
changeling?
This story is available as a picture book (but it's definitely not
just for kids).
Also try: Invisible Links, Harvest, and other short story
collections.

3. If you want
Something EPIC
You're not one to muck about with
short stories.
The larger and grander the better.
I recommend Jerusalem (1 and 2).
It's the story of a Swedish religious
cult that moves to Jerusalem, and
the people they left behind.
It involves things like romance, family, destiny, duty, religious
frenzy, and abuse of power.
It's also a really good read. (One of my favourites.)
Also try: The Story of Gösta Berling (her first novel).

4. If you want
GHOST
STORIES
Boy has she got a lot of those!
Many can be found in her short story collections (like the creepy
tale of the spirrtus).
But she also has some longer ones.
Herr Arne's Hoard / The Treasure is the tale of a murdered family
getting revenge on their killers.
The Phantom Chariot is about a man who has to drive Death's
chariot. (It's also an amazing silent movie.)
The General's Ring / Löwensköldska ringen is about a ring that's
been stolen from a dead body (never a good idea).

5. If you want
GHOST STORIES
but also
REALISM
Read The General's Ring.
Then continue with its sequels:
Charlotte Löwensköld
and Anna Svärd.
They're realistic.
Kind of.
The second book starts
with a lovers' spat with far-
reaching consequences.
These books have two of
the most compelling
heroines I have ever had
the joy to read about.
As well as a villainess you
love to hate,
and a self-righteous fool
who'll make you want to
throw the book at his
imaginary head.
Plus a lot of other wonderful
characters.

6. If you want
things that REALLY HAPPENED
(well mostly)
She has written three childhood memoirs:
Memories of my childhood
Mårbacka
The Diary of Selma Lagerlöf
There's some happy cozy memories, and also sad stuff, like
having to deal with her father's illness/alcoholism and the
resulting money trouble, and her own disability and jealousy
of her sister.
On top of that, there are tall tales and hints of the
supernatural, because this is still Selma and you can't
100% trust her just because she calls it a memoir.

7. If you want
TEARJERKERS
I recommend
The Emperor of Portugallia.
There are others, but this is #1.
I still cry every time I read it.
It's the story of a man who is utterly devoted to his daughter,
to the point where you kind of understand it when she runs
off to the big city. (Where Bad Things happen to her, obvs.)
At which point her father loses his mind and believes himself
to be emperor.
The whole thing is super heartbreaking.

8. If you want
CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM
I recommend The Miracles of Antichrist
in which the people of an Italian village
accidentally start worshipping the Antichrist
which in context isn't such a bad thing.
If you want just the Christianity without the socialism,
there's the short story collection called Christ Legends
as well as other bits of religion in several of her stories.
Usually apocrypha mixed with folklore. Sunday school
teachings this ain't.

9. If you want
CHILDREN'S FANTASY
mixed with
SWEDISH GEOGRAPHY
Then you're looking for
The Wonderful Adventures of Nils
aka her most famous book
about a boy who travels around the
country on the back of a goose.
Honestly, I think it's overrated.
It was written as a geography textbook, and for a geography
textbook it's pretty good.
Just not for a Selma Lagerlöf book. Or even a children's
fantasy novel. Don't start with this one, or you may not want to
continue.

10. If you want
LESBIAN LOVE STORIES
You'll need to speak Swedish
in which case you can read Du lär mig att bli fri
which are Selma Lagerlöf's letters to one of her girlfriends.
I don't think they've been translated to English, sadly.
But listen, you've been given so many other recommendations
and this isn't even all of it.
There's The Girl from the Marsh Croft, and The Tale of a
Manor, and The Outcast, and Liliecrona's Home...
in short, you'll have a lot to read
and remember, some of it is available at gutenberg.org