Daniel (Mankell novel)

The red antelope is a novel by Henning Mankell, who under the original title Vindens son ( The Son of the Wind) is published by the Swedish publisher Norstedt in 2000. It is not a crime of the famous Wallander series, but a novel that stands alone.

Action

In the Kalahari Desert in 1876, the young Swede Hans Bengler unsuccessful encounters in his search for an undiscovered insect on the Busch boys Molo, who has just lost his parents in a raid on his tribe. Bengler, seized by a sudden inspiration, decides to take the boy to Sweden to "civilize " him and make him a " better life ". Against the opposition of Wilhelm Anderssen, a Swedish Trade Representative, which at times takes Bengler in the desert with him, and the boy, the partout do not want to leave his home, ships both from Cape Town to Simrishamn where just dawned the Swedish autumn.

Molo, the Bengler Daniel baptizes, without having to worry about its former name and his past, suffers greatly from the sudden uprooting and intense homesickness, but all his attempts to escape, on the "big water animal," the sea, walk home, fail. Meanwhile, goes Bengler out of money, and he decides " for the welfare of the boys ", against payment to the painter Alfred Boman as a model to let him and he issue along with his collected insects in the cities of the Swedish south coast. On the journey they also come in Benglers old parents' house, where he learns that his father is dead and the house a mess. He takes all the valuables out of the house and trying to keep his broken past behind, " a new life " to begin.

When, after an incident with the critical journalist Ina Myrén that tries to get the truth about Daniel's past out Bengler with Molo on the run, this leaves the boy to the care of Dr. Madsen, who has academic interest in him, and Alma and Edvin, who welcome him to their humble farm in a nest with the Swedish name Kverrestad.

Retrieved from " father " disappointed and hostility in the Swedish province from all sides, he plans more than ever his escape across the sea back home. He gets it from Sanna, a girl from the village, as " retarded " and " stupid " applies Unexpected support. The two become friends. Daniel, who is now the Swedish language is powerful indeed, continues to suffer and hatched at anywhere, both in the unenlightened villagers and the priest Hallén, which it will not be possible to evangelize the boy.

After Daniel is caught in his first escape attempt, succeeds together with Sanna a second run, in which the two once again be caught. He desperately wants to throw into the water, but it's just Sanna, which prevents him to be reunited with his parents again. This betrayal can not forgive Daniel.

• Novel, epic
• Literature (Swedish)
• Literature ( 20th century)
• Literary work
• Work by Henning Mankell