”Sverige i r varh nder.” Ber ttelsen om nationen i Sven Wernstr ms Den underbara resan1

Sweden in the Hands of Robbers. The Narrative of the Nation in Sven Wernstr m's Den underbara resan.Sven Wernstr m's Den underbara resan (“The Wonderful Journey”) describes a modern Sweden by following in the trail of Selma Lagerl f's classic The Wonderful Adventures of Nils. This article analyzes Wernstr m's depiction of Sweden and its people. By incorporating The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, the author foregrounds the notion of nation as narrative by stressing the subjectivity of the text and processes of creation. Rather than subscribing to Lagerl f's vision of unity, Wernstr m describes a Sweden divided by class conflict. Being a true Swede is defined through economic disinterestedness and love of nature. Den underbara resan describes the creation of a model citizen through the bildung of the protagonist. However, the ideal citizen is not depicted as a loyal subject but as an independent person willing to critize people in power and protest against injustice.