New Swedish Books, autumn 2020 1
New Swedish Books 30 The Destroyer Jonas Thente’s
choice This is an unbelievable story. Here is a celebrated writer, internationally known, famous for her novels about gender systems and equality. Here is a man man who dupes and manipulates his way into her life, until she’s on the brink of bankruptcy and homelessness. An unbelievable story, yet it is autobiographical. Supported by her diaries Christina Herrström describes the maelstrom that the first part of the 2010s was for her. Sam, whom she first meets in his capacity as choir leader in a Stockholm church, is a pathological liar and a narcissistic psychopath. Step by step he takes advantage of Christina’s weaknesses, almost to the point of extinguishing her. It is a horrifying and tense book that wants to warn the public of Sam and others just like him. Christina Herrström Selected works Glappet 1998, YA novel Denzel 2016 Selected awards Årets brytare 2011 Dorispriset 2011 Novel, 506 p. Christina Herrström Publisher Albert Bonniers Förlag Rights Christina Herrström christina@christinaherrstrom.com Photo: Stefan Tell