Delusions (Förvillelser) - Hjalmar Söderberg

Art. no. 216584045 24 Apr 2025

Förvillelser (1895) is Hjalmar Söderberg's debut novel, in which he introduces the unconventional and lost Tomas Weber. The novel depicts his uncertainty in the face of life's choices and his struggle against the conventions of society.

Delusions follows Tomas Weber, a young man who has started medical studies but instead wanders the streets of Stockholm. He is surrounded by friends and acquaintances, including Märta, whom he courts, and Ellen, a young woman he meets in a glove shop. Tomas's inability to choose between these women reflects his general insecurity and lack of direction in life. The novel explores themes of love, identity and societal expectations, and is known for its realistic portrayal of youth in the late 19th century.