''Jerusalem'' is a novel by the Swedish writer

Selma Lagerlöf Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (, , ; 20 November 1858 – 16 March 1940) was a Swedish author. She published her first novel, '' Gösta Berling's Saga'', at the age of 33. She was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, which she wa ...

, published in two parts in 1901 and 1902. The narrative spans several generations in the 19th century, and focuses on several families in

Dalarna Dalarna () is a '' landskap'' (historical province) in central Sweden. English exonyms for it are Dalecarlia () and the Dales. Dalarna adjoins Härjedalen, Hälsingland, Gästrikland, Västmanland and Värmland. It is also bordered by Norwa ...

, Sweden, and a community of Swedish emigrants in Jerusalem. It is loosely based on a real emigration that took place from the parish of Nås in 1896. As part of her research Lagerlöf went to visit

Horatio Horatio is an English male given name, an Italianized form of the ancient Roman Latin '' nomen'' (name) '' Horatius'', from the Roman '' gens'' (clan) '' Horatia''. The modern Italian form is ''Orazio'', the modern Spanish form ''Horacio''. It app ...

and

Anna Spafford Anna Spafford (March 16, 1842 – April 17, 1923), born Anne Tobine Larsen Øglende in Stavanger, Norway, was a Norwegian-American woman who settled in Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combini ...

at the American Colony, Jerusalem.'' Jerusalem: The Biography'', page 365,

Simon Sebag Montefiore Simon Jonathan Sebag Montefiore (; born 27 June 1965) is a British historian, television presenter and author of popular history books and novels, including ''Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar' (2003), Monsters: History's Most Evil Men and ...

, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2011.

Adaptations

The first four chapters of the first book were adapted into two ambitious films by

Victor Sjöström Victor David Sjöström (; 20 September 1879 – 3 January 1960), also known in the United States as Victor Seastrom, was a pioneering Swedish film director, screenwriter, and actor. He began his career in Sweden, before moving to Hollywood in ...

in 1919 and 1920, '' Sons of Ingmar'' and '' Karin Daughter of Ingmar''. Sjöström originally intended to film the entire suite, but decided to cancel the project after the second film received unenthusiastic critical response.

Gustaf Molander Gustaf Harald August Molander (18 November 1888 – 19 June 1973) was a Swedish actor and film director. His parents were director Harald Molander, Sr. (1858–1900) and singer and actress Lydia Molander, ''née'' Wessler, and his brother was th ...

picked up where Sjöström left and released his adaptation of the first book, ''Ingmarsarvet'', in 1925, followed by the second, ''Till Österland'', in 1926. The Danish filmmaker

Bille August Bille August (born 9 November 1948) is a Danish director, screenwriter, and cinematographer of film and television. In a career spanning over four decades, he has been the recipient of numerous accolades, making him one of the most acclaimed co ...

directed a 1996 film version with the title ''

Jerusalem Jerusalem (; he, יְרוּשָׁלַיִם ; ar, القُدس ) (combining the Biblical and common usage Arabic names); grc, Ἱερουσαλήμ/Ἰεροσόλυμα, Hierousalḗm/Hierosóluma; hy, Երուսաղեմ, Erusałēm. i ...

''. A stage adaptation, ''Ingmarsspelen'', has become an annual tradition in Nås, Dalarna, where it has been performed outdoors every year since 1959.

Adaptations

See also

References

Further reading