Henning Mankell’s last novel, about an aging man whose quiet, solitary life on an isolated island off the coast of Sweden is turned upside down when his house catches fire. Fredrik Welin is a former surgeon who retired in disgrace decades earlier to a tiny island on which he is the only resident. He has a daughter he rarely sees and his mailman Jansson is the closest thing he has to a friend, and … has to a friend, and to an adversary. He is perfectly content to live out his days in quiet solitude.
One autumn evening, he is startled awake by a blinding light–only to discover that his house is on fire. With the help of Jansson, he escapes the flames just in time wearing two left boots. Dawn reveals that everything he owns is now a smoldering pile of ash and his house is destroyed–forcing him to move into an abandoned trailer on his island. A local journalist, Lisa Modin, who wants to write a story about the fire, comes into his life. In doing so, she awakens in him something that he thought was long dead. Soon after, his daughter comes to the island with surprising news of her own. Meanwhile, the police suspect Fredrik of arson because he had a sizable insurance claim on his house. When Fredrik is away from the archipelago, another house goes up in flames and the community realizes they have an arsonist in their midst. After the Fire is an intimate portrait of an elderly recluse who is forced to open himself up to a world he’d left behind.
more
A senior man finds himself alone and recalls his life full as he loses his home in a fire. It is thought provoking as we all age, we start to wonder where do we end, and this is a good book to read to realize we should never worry about when we will end. This was Henning Mankell’s last book.
This is a really find book. It’s a sequel to Italian Shoes, which is also quite good.
Great setting, characters so Scandinavian.
He’s always a great read. This one has more reflections on end of life issues, but it was still very entertaining.
I am a Henning Mankel fan and have been for years. This book started to look like a disappointment in the first couple of chapters but then I was hooked. Such a tragic story laced with day-to-day reality of the life of a solitary man that is totally disrupted, not just by the fire, but a woman comes into his life confusing things and his daughter complicates his emotions even more with her lifestyle. A fascinating read I highly recommend. Written with wit and an understanding of friendships and loyalties that those who have known a solitary and hard life will recognize.
Not the most likable of protagonists but the reader comes to understand him. A little “Wallanderesque.”
Excellent writing. Great story. After reading all the Kurt Wallander books I was delighted to find a whole new side to Henning Mankell and I love these books too!
I liked it. It was a little strange but interesting
A “coming of age” story for those who are in their 60s and 70s as the main character makes peace with change and changes.
I love everything Markell wrote. He just strikes a chord with me. I love his descriptions of the Baltic islands and skerries. This was his last book and even though it didn’t feature Kurt Wallender I loved it!
An author who has never disappointed and is imminently re-readable.
The story moves at a snail’s pace and has about the most disappointing “end game” one could imagine.
Realistic view on aging, family, community.
Henning Mankell’s books are wonderful – they capture the essence of the characters and the atmosphere of Sweden. They are like gourmet food and will kill your appetite for fast food books.
Good author
I didn’t like the protagonist, but I couldn’t put the book down. The other characters didn’t make sense to me, but I couldn’t put the book down. The setting of the story, on some small, bleak islands off the coast of Sweden, was not something I could relate to, but I couldn’t put the book down. Finally, near the end of the book, it all made sense to me. It was a brilliant book. The author has liberally sprinkled clues throughout the book, and if you pay attention, it will all make sense to you, too.
What a beautiful book. The characters, the scenery, the actions – are all so beautifully described – so easy to envision. I listened to this as an audio book and the narrator’s voice was mesmerizing – further enhancing the beautiful prose.
wow, i read this book years ago, cannot forget it, so sorry he is no longer with us. Perhaps there is one more book out there that has not been translated? Send it to America, please.