Clasici contemporani Râul

Erik is fourteen and lives in Sweden in the 1950s. His father beats him, finding any excuse to hurt him. At school, Erik leads a gang that bullies other pupils. The gang also takes part in illegal acts. When events come to a head, the school expels him.

His mother acts before his father learns what has happened. She sends Erik to a private school to escape further abuse. But the new school proves even more brutal and racist. Its harsh rules and cruel punishments echo his father's violence.

Jan Guillou's novel draws on his own life. It explores how abuse breeds more abuse, linking cruelty at home with cruelty at school. This edition belongs to the Clasici contemporani series. The novel also became a film directed by Mikael Håfström, starring Andreas Wilson. The film earned an Oscar nomination for best foreign-language film.