Dr. Jim Kaplan, professor emeritus at Minnesota State University Moorhead discusses the Scandinavian crime novels that are enjoying world-wide popularity.

Huge successes as books, movies, and TV shows, they feature such internationally-recognized main characters as Lisbeth Salander, Kurt Wallander, and Harry Hole. Featured in this program will be “Jar City” by Icelandic author Arnaldur Indridason, “Occupied” by Norwegian author Jo Nesbø, and “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” by Swedish author Stieg Larsson.

Kaplan’s lecture will include film clips based on these works. Crime thrillers enable readers to learn about the real lives of Scandinavian people today and are a fun and exciting introduction to literature and the humanities.