Fredrik Sjöberg (1) (1958–)

The Fly Trap occupies the Venn diagram intersection of philosophy, poetry, and entomology—that’s entomology with an “n,” the study of insects. More precisely in Sjöberg’s case, the study of hoverflies, family Syrphidae. While flies may not seem the most lyrical of topics, as the author admits, they are an access point for a book-length riff on facets of the human condition that interest him: the urge to collect and classify, the freedom inherent in a highly limited field of study, show more ambivalence about travel, loneliness, persistence, joy. Loosely organized around the story of Swedish naturalist René Malaise (1892–1978), inventor of the titular fly trap, the book is not a biography—nor is it a monograph, scientific treatise, or narrative. Sjöberg free-associates, yet manages to string his musings together in a way that keeps the book bobbing gently along and doesn’t edge into self-indulgence. What The Fly Trap is really about, in Sjöberg’s words, is “the creative imagination that characterizes artists and good scientists.” show less

Libro il cui fascino è direttamente proporzionale all'inclassificabilità: a chi interessa delle mosche? O di un oscuro entomologo di nome René Malaise? O dell'esploratrice Ester Blenda? O, in generale, delle vicende autobiografiche dell'autore, alle prese con trappole per mosche, viaggi improbabili e ricerche di (probabili) falsi d'arte rembrandtiani? A nessuno, verrebbe da dire, eppure il fascino di questo libro è proprio quello di riuscire in poche pagine ad appassionare il lettore a show more tutto questo. Lettura fresca e corroborante. show less

Delightful! Easily the best Swedish entomologist's memoir I've read this year. Sjöberg writes with the total assurance of an expert used to being overlooked. The result is loose-limbed prose supporting a fascinating, wondering mind. Worth it for the description of Czech fly-nets and the subtlety of polite British conversation.

Great book: the musings of a hoverfly collector who lives on a tiny island in Sweden. Odd you might think, you may be right but he writes beautifully (with the help of his translator which is a skill in itself) about the past, the present and the strange obsessives who have collected things over time. Bought on a whim while waiting for a train and another case of serendipity.