‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ is a fictional story written by Swedish author and journalist, Stieg Larsson. It was published posthumously in 2005. It is one of the best written fictional stories. The original title in Swedish is ‘Man som hatar kvinnor; in English: Men who Hate Women’. The book has twenty seven chapters which portrayed characters such as Mikael Blomkvist (main character), Lisbeth Salander (secondary protagonist), Henrik Vanger, Martin Vanger, Erika Berger, Hans-Erik Wennerstrom, Nils Bjurman, Harriet Vanger and Holger Palmgren and so on.
SUMMARY
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo begins with journalist, Mikael Blomkvist who was trying to escape a crowd of eager reporters after his conviction for the libel and defamation of financier Hans-Erik Wennerstrom. He thought about his conviction after retreating to a café and also ponders about his political magazine, Millennium. He met with Millennium editor-in-chief which happens to be his lover, Erika Berger and announces his intention to leave the magazine. Lisbeth Salander, an unorthodox young woman with piercings and tattoos who work for Milton Security’s private investigation division was also introduced. She was to look into Blomkvist whom her boss, Frode wants to hire on behalf of Henrik Vanger, a wealthy industrialist and head of Vanger companies.
Salander continued the search on Blomkvist by purchasing an electronic cuff that would help her monitor Wennerstrom’s computer while Blomkvist considers the job. Blomkvist met Henrik Vanger who wants him to a history of the Vanger’s family as a pretext to solving the murder of Henrik’s great niece, Harriet Vanger who had disappeared. He took the job when Henrik promised him devastating information about Wennerstrom upon the completion of the job. At this point, Millennium has been losing advertising revenue so he took the chance to repair the damage to his career.
Blomkvist got to Hedeby, where he got Harriet’s date book. He attempts to decipher five mysterious names and numbers in the book. He was also introduced to the other members of the Vanger’s family on his visit by Henrik. Meanwhile, Salander encountered a problem when her guardian, Holger Palmgren became critically ill. The new guardian appointed for her made a hell out of her. Nils Bjurman , threatens to control her finances , treats her with contempt, and forces her to perform oral sex on him. Salander was brutally raped in the next encounter with Nils after she had prepared to blackmail him. She tattoos a reminder of his perversion after this event. She is surprised when she gets news that she is no longer needed to do research on the Wennerstrom affair.
Blomkvist met Salander when he needs to solve puzzles about the names written in the date book. The pair later became accomplice as they search for the root of the matter. They find out that the names and numbers were reference to series of gruesome killings. They eventually found Martin Vanger, the smoking gun who was the brother of Harriet. Blomkvist goes to Martin’s cabin to confront him at the climax of the book. Martin, who was prepared for his arrival beat him and then admits that both he and his father share responsibilities for the killings. They also tried to induct Harriet into the murderous traditions as well. Salander got in just at the right time to save Blomkvist. Martin while trying to flee lost his life on the lane.
It was later discovered that Harriet was alive who told her part of the story. Henrik also stopped in his mission to write a family story and there was no account of Wennerstrom to be given to Blomkvist. He was helped by Salander who had compiled a lot about the Wennerstrom case. As the book The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo closes, Blomkvist writes an expose about the Wennerstrom affair that upends the financial world, restores his credibility, and reestablishes Millenium’s security. Wennerstrom resurfaces dead in a hotel room in Spain thanks to a tip from Salander. She was about to profess love to Blomkvist when she found out he was in an affair with Erika Berger, the editor-in-chief. Her decision to walk away indicates a lack of closure between the pair despite their successful solving of the case.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a book you will definitely enjoy reading. Read and thank me later.
