Freeway - Jan Guillou

Jan Guillou

The Journalist and the Author

Jan Guillou is a controversial character here in Sweden. He is a very popular writer and a skilled journalist. But animal rights activists love to hate him for his devotion for hunting. He has in an interview said that "Homosexuality is more of a trend than something you are born to. It has come and gone throughout the history. "And in the same article; "I can think that homosexuals get angry. But is it me or the history they should be angry with?" (Directly translated from Swedish) For better and for worse, Guillou is a famous man in Sweden and here is all you need to know about him.

Jan Guillou was born in Sweden in 1944. Guillou started his career as a journalist writing committed and political stories. He became famous when he uncovered a, until then, secret Swedish intelligence service that worked with unlawful registration of individuals political opinions. "IB-affären" or "the IB-business" directly translated. The "IB-affären" made him famous but he also got sentenced to 10 moths in prison for treason. The fact that he got punished for uncovering illegal activity was probably what made him write about it in his books about Hamilton. As a journalist he also has been a leader for social critic TV programs.

"Coq Rouge"

Guillou has had great successes with his novels about the Swedish intelligence agent Carl Hamilton alias. "Coq Rouge." It’s a series of 10 books and has completely or in parts been translated to some15 languages. It has as well been used as a base for film- and TV productions. Carl Hamilton is the Swedish James Bond. But Guillous intention with the books is to show how the authorities have no respect for existing laws. Guillou wants to illustrate how counterintelligence lives in a world of its own as well. He has tried to write the books as realistically as possible via interviews with different people. Guillou learned a lot about counterintelligence and espionage when he was uncovering. The "IB-affären" as well. So there are two kinds of people who read these books. First those who read them for the action and the thrills. Second those who read the books for the political messages. Quote "The whole work about Hamilton is a revenge on the authorities"unquote. (Directly translated)

The Books

Jan Guillou has written 20 books and has been translated to 12 languages (not Italian). Other things that Guillou has written that are worth mentioning is the self biographic book "Ondskan" or "The Evil", the debate book "Justitiemord" or "Murder of Justice" and the TV play "Vargen" or "The Wolf". Guillou’s most recent work is three books about a Swedish temple knight and his influence on history according to Guillou. The books are partly history based and partly fiction, but very realistic. The books have a strong message against hostility towards foreigners and racism. I have read "Ondskan", "The Evil" and the temple knight suite and I would like to recommend all these books.

Preview of the temple knight suite.
The main character is Arn Magnuson in all tree books and his betrothed Cecilia. You get to follow their destiny through the books. The story starts in a not yet united Sweden in 1150. That year Arn was born. After an accident Arns mother promises that she will grant him to God’s holy work among humans, if the boy’s life is spared. And when the boy miraculously awakes with no injuries, the parents let a monastery raise Arn to a monk. But a former temple knight also trains him in the arts of war. This is the first book "Vägen till Jerusalem" or "The Road to Jerusalem". In the second book "Tempelriddaren" or "The Temple Knight" Arn is in the kingdom of Jerusalem and is a temple knight himself. In this book you get to follow ten dramatic years when Arn fights as a temple knight in Jerusalem. And at the same time Cecilia is waiting for him to come home, where she has been placed in a nunnery. But sisters from other families give her a hard time, because of the political conditions in the country. In the third book "Riket vid vägens slut" or "The kingdom at the end of the road" Arn has returned home and finally gets to marry his betrothed Cecilia. Arn has lost the war in the Holy land, but he brings home knowledge and immigrants that become the foundation of Sweden.

These are three strong books about faith, friendship, love, loyalty and war (in alphabetical order) and some good examples of what pride can cause. The books are also realistic and you really get the feeling that Guillou actually was there, because all the environmental descriptions and the story is really detailed and trustworthy.

PS All the titles are directly translated and may have a different title in English, except for "The Evil".