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After the Fire

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( 4,746 ratings, 534 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
In After the Fire by Henning Mankell, Fredrik Welin, a retired surgeon, lives a solitary life on a remote Swedish island. When his house is destroyed by fire, he must confront his past and the secrets that haunt him, all while trying to rebuild his life. This introspective tale explores themes of loss, redemption, and the human spirit.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you love gripping, character-driven mysteries that explore deep personal reflections and the human condition. This novel, set in a remote Swedish island, offers a powerful narrative about solitude, ageing, and confronting the past.

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LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA INTERNATIONAL DAGGER 2018

The final novel from the bestselling author of the Inspector Wallander mysteries


Fredrik Welin is a seventy-year-old retired doctor.

The last novel from international crime bestseller Henning Mankell. A brilliant and moving mystery set in the Swedish archipelago.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

After the Fire is the last novel from the internationally acclaimed crime writer Henning Mankell, known for his gripping and atmospheric prose. Set against the breath-taking yet isolating backdrop of the Swedish archipelago, this brilliant and moving mystery unfolds with intensity and emotional depth. LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA INTERNATIONAL DAGGER 2018.

Fredrik Welin is a seventy-year-old retired doctor who has chosen to live a solitary existence on an island in the Swedish archipelago. His days are marked by a self-imposed routine, swimming in the freezing sea every morning, even to the extent of cutting a hole in the ice when necessary. Fredrik lives a quiet, introspective life, surrounded by the memories of his past and the serene yet desolate landscape.

However, Fredrik's tranquil existence is violently disrupted one night when he wakes to find his home engulfed in flames. Escaping just in time, albeit in two left-footed wellies, he watches helplessly as his house, which has been in his family for generations, burns to the ground. The next morning, all that remains is a smouldering ruin and the charred remnants of his worldly belongings. The evidence points to arson, but Fredrik is at a loss; he cannot fathom who would do such a thing or why they would target him.

As the police investigate, the suspicion inexplicably falls on Fredrik himself, questioning whether he might have had a reason to burn his own home. The story then delves into Fredrikโ€™s emotional journey as he struggles to piece his life back together, seeking answers and redemption amidst the ashes of his former life. His interactions with the neighbouring islanders and the arrival of old acquaintances add layers of complexity, revealing buried secrets and long-forgotten grievances.

After the Fire is much more than a mystery; it is a poignant exploration of loneliness, resilience, and the human spiritโ€™s capacity to confront and overcome profound loss. Mankellโ€™s signature storytelling masterfully weaves a tale that is both deeply personal and universally relatable, making this final novel a compelling read for fans of crime fiction and literary fiction alike.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

After the Fire provides closure to Henning Mankellโ€™s substantial career without becoming maudlin, offering human warmth and glimmers of hope despite its bleak and elegiac atmosphere. It is a powerful reminder of Mankell's literary accomplishments, being a life-enhancing novel suitable as his final curtain, full of regret, loneliness, yet also hope and love.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781784703394

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 04 October 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage

Contributors:

  • Translated by Marlaine Delargy

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 287g

Pages: 416

About the Author

Henning Mankell (1948-2015) became a worldwide phenomenon with his crime writing, gripping thrillers and atmospheric novels set in Africa. His prizewinning and critically acclaimed Inspector Wallander Mysteries continue to dominate bestseller lists all over the globe and his books have been translated into forty-five languages and made into numerous international film and television adaptations- most recently the BAFTA-award-winning BBC television series Wallander, starring Kenneth Branagh. Driven by a desire to change the world and to fight against racism and nationalism, Mankell devoted much of his time to working with charities in Africa, including SOS Children's Villages and PLAN International, where he was also director of the Teatro Avenida in Maputo. In 2008, the University of St Andrews conferred Henning Mankell with an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of his major contribution to literature and to the practical exercise of conscience. www.henningmankell.com

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