First published in 1900, this Swedish novel feels surprisingly modern in its focus on a marriage under pressure.

The Story

Engineer Arvid Linden and his wife, Gerda, have a comfortable, loving life. Their peace is shattered when Arvid's half-brother, Gösta, appears. Gösta is the son of Arvid's late father from an affair, and he's a mess—unstable, needy, and completely reliant. Bound by a sense of family duty, Arvid brings him into their home. What follows is the slow unraveling of their marriage. Gerda feels her space and her husband's attention invaded, while Arvid is torn between his wife and his responsibility for this broken sibling. The tension isn't about shouting matches, but about quiet resentment, strained conversations, and the heavy weight of an obligation that changes everything.

Why You Should Read It

Geijerstam writes with incredible empathy. He doesn't paint anyone as a villain. You feel for Arvid's impossible position, you understand Gerda's frustration, and you even pity the lost Gösta. The real drama is internal—the questions of what we owe to family versus what we owe to our chosen partners. It's a masterclass in showing how a relationship erodes not with a bang, but with a thousand small sighs and unspoken grievances.

Final Verdict

This is a book for readers who love character-driven stories that explore the complexities of human relationships. If you enjoy authors like Thomas Hardy or even the domestic tensions in a modern novel by Anne Tyler, you'll find a lot to sit with here. It's a thoughtful, sometimes heartbreaking, and always honest look at the promises we make and the ones we're forced to keep.