Stockholm: A Cultural History

by Tony Griffiths

Overview

Situated on one of the world's most beautiful harbors, Stockholm has set the benchmark for civilized urban living since the time of the Vikings. Tony Griffiths reveals a city of power, intrigue, and murder; of scientists and investors; and a sensual city, home of Greta Garbo and the smörgåsbord. Its medieval period saw the Vasa dynasty turn a small town into the capital of a dominant European power and a major trading port. In the Napoleonic era, Stockholm established itself as a center of both technical and social innovation. While the city has suffered more than its fair share of misfortune, Stockholm's cultural and commercial elite transformed it into a community which now welcomes innovation and spreads the fruits of its achievements far beyond its borders.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195386370
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/25/2009
Series:	Cityscapes
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	834,958
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Tony Griffiths teaches at Flinders University and is the author of Scandinavia.

Table of Contents

Preface and AcknowledgmentsChapter 1: Beautiful, Hungry LandscapeFollow the VikingsThe Story of SomewhereSlick and Immediate MinimalismVasastan: Hip Vibes or Siberia?Chapter 2: Murky EndsGustav III: Murder at the Masked BallStatsminister Palme: Red OlofAnna Lindh: Knifed at NKChapter 3: Fearful LingoA New Human Ideal: De Botton and MyerGeorge Bernard Shaw: High MediocrityStrindberg: Son of a ServantGraham Greene: Sentimental Humility and Deep Hidden ArroganceMotojiro Akashi: The Japanese James BondChapter 4: Money, Money, MoneyAlfred Nobel: Grumbling BearIngvar Kamprad: Never a NaziThe Gnomes of Gamla StanThe Aga: Simple, Sweet Tempered and SmartEthical Investments: An Arm and a LegAxel Wenner-Gren: Swell or Swindler?Chapter 5: Stars and Sly BitchesScreen GoddessesGreta Garbo: I Want to be Left AloneIngrid Bergman: The Palmolive GarboAnita Ekberg: La Dolce VitaBo Widerberg: Shampoo AdvertisementsIngmar Bergman: The Devil's EyeChapter 6: A Man After MidnightJust a HousewifeAntonio's TemptationA solitary beaconThe Singha TsunamiChapter 7: The SystemHelan gar: The Full Dram GoesCarl Linneaus: Gross PrurienceTrolls in the TunnelbanChapter 8: Fairytale Kings and Dancing QueensBorn to FightQueen Christina: Hairy-legged HunchbackLife Among the LilacsDésirée and Cuckoo KingsChapter 9: SlaughterThe Stockholm BloodbathChristina the RipperThe Capsize of the Vasa: The Lion SinksThe Chernobyl Disaster: Terror from the SkyThe Estonia: Sunk off UtöFlight 686: The Milan ApocalypseChapter 10: The Nobel Prizes: Doing it for MeThe Science of WinningColossal ImaginationPolitical Muscle, Artistic Temperament, the Exotic and ObscureCity of the Well Behaved, Well Spoken, Clean, Rational but ShadowlessChapter 11: Northern NecropolisReading Themselves to DeathMacabre MonarchsThe Democracy of DeathChapter 12: LustJoy, Pleasure and DelightName DaysThe SmorgasbordThe Bishops Invite You InThe Fellini Factor