The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Summary

Overview

• Title: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
• Author: Stieg Larsson
• Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller

Plot Summary

The novel intertwines two primary storylines: the professional downfall of journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the complex investigation into a decades-old disappearance within the wealthy Vanger family.

Mikael Blomkvist

• Background: Disgraced journalist, co-owner of Millennium magazine.
• Circumstance: Convicted of libel against Hans-Erik Wennerström, a powerful businessman.

Lisbeth Salander

• Characterization: Brilliant but socially awkward, a skilled hacker with a troubled past.
• Role: Initially conducts a background check on Blomkvist, later becomes his ally.

The Vanger Family Mystery

• Event: Henrik Vanger, head of the Vanger Corporation, hires Blomkvist to investigate his great-niece Harriet's disappearance, unsolved for 40 years.
• Investigation: Blomkvist, assisted by Salander, delves into the dysfunctional Vanger family history and uncovers shocking secrets and crimes.

Key Themes

• Corruption: Exposing corporate and individual corruption.
• Dark Past: Exploration of Sweden's dark history and social issues.
• Justice: Seeking justice for past wrongs, often outside legal boundaries.

Conclusion

• Resolution: The mystery of Harriet's disappearance is solved, revealing complex family dynamics and crimes.
• Blomkvist's Redemption: Successfully exposes Wennerström's criminal activities, restoring his professional reputation.

Characters

1. Mikael Blomkvist: Main protagonist, journalist.
2. Lisbeth Salander: Co-protagonist, hacker and investigator.
3. Henrik Vanger: Blomkvist's client, patriarch of the Vanger family.
4. Harriet Vanger: Missing girl, central to the Vanger family mystery.
5. Hans-Erik Wennerström: Blomkvist's nemesis, corrupt businessman.

Author's Background

• Stieg Larsson: Swedish journalist and writer, known for posthumously published Millennium series.

For a more detailed analysis and insights into character development, thematic exploration, and narrative techniques, further reading of Stieg Larsson's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is highly recommended.