It is acceptable (Det går an) - Carl Jonas Love Almqvist

Art. no. 216584053 24 Apr 2025

Det går an is a short novel by Carl Jonas Love Almqvist, published in 1839. It depicts a steamboat journey between Stockholm and Lidköping, where the glassmaker's daughter Sara Videbeck and the sergeant Albert fall in love. The novel provoked great debate in its day for its outspoken treatment of marriage and women's economic independence.

In Det går an, Sara Videbeck and Albert meet during a steamboat trip. Despite their growing feelings for each other, Sara is hesitant about marriage, as it would mean losing her financial independence as an unmarried woman. Instead, she suggests that they live together without a formal marriage, which Albert accepts. The novel criticizes contemporary views on marriage and women's right to economic independence, and challenges the established norms of relationships and family.