Bengt Ohlsson

In this novel, which won prizes in Sweden, Ohlsson explores the unsavory character from the classic "Doctor Glas" (published in 1905 but very "modern"), Pastor Gregorius. I actually felt sorry for Gregorius when I read Doctor Glas, so I was interested in reading this contemporary work when it was mentioned here on LT. Ohlsson provides an intense, almost claustrophobic look into Gregorius's mind, heart, and soul (as a pastor, God is real to him), generally paralleling the story from "Doctor show more Glas" but adding in back story about his childhood and earlier friendship with his young wife's parents as well as other relationships and actions that Doctor Glas, the narrator of the earlier novel, could not have known about. I came away thinking of Gregorius as tormented, lonely, very perceptive but also self-centered, and far from the horrible person portrayed in "Doctor Glas." In Sweden, I think most people have read "Doctor Glas," so this book would resonate with them; here in the US, where it is not a common read, I don't know how "Gregorius" would stand on its own. show less

Taking Soderberg's Doctor Glas as its starting point, Ohlsson tells the story from the pastor Gregorius' perspective, as well as filling in his back story. In this way, one comes to undertand (if not necessarily agree with) Gregorius; as the author himself says in the afterword, he gradually makes him more and more human throughout the book, where in Doctor Glas he becomes less and less so.

The book is longer and the style quite different from Doctor Glas. We get an fascinating insight into show more Gregorius' mind, his motives, anxieties, insecurities and relationship with God, which are more universal and touch on the depths of all human minds. In the the author is very perceptive, and communicates this in a very natural way which makes the book very readable despite the deep content.

Recommended to anyone interested in Soderberg, Swedish writing, the early 20th century, the mind, or just a having a good intellectual read. show less

En underbar skildring av Hjalmar Söderbergs Doktor Glas men där man får se det med pastor Gregorius ögon.

Bedoeld als "opvolger" van Hjalmar Söderbergs roman Doktor Glas, maar kan daar niet aan tippen.