Streszczenie:
This article examines the portrayal of historical trauma and its psychological aftermath
in Jo Nesbø’s The Redbreast (2006; [Rødstrupe, 2000]) and Camilla Läckberg’s
The Hidden Child (2011; [Tyskungen, 2011]), two key works of Scandinavian crime
fiction that explore World War II’s enduring impact on the Nordic psyche. Both novels
investigate how wartime experiences continue to shape personal and collective identities,
revealing the lingering moral and emotional consequences of the past. In The Redbreast,
Nesbø links a modern murder investigation with Norway’s Nazi past, showing
how historical trauma still shapes the present. Detective Harry Hole faces both a killer
symbolising national guilt and his own moral conflicts. Similarly, The Hidden Child
follows Erika Falck as she uncovers family secrets connected to World War II, revealing
how hidden histories affect current relationships. Both authors use Scandinavian crime
fiction not only for suspense, but also to explore moral and historical complexity. By
engaging deeply with wartime memory, Nesbø and Läckberg prompt readers to reflect
on unresolved historical wounds and the psychological burdens borne by individuals
and societies alike.
