The second book in the Fröknarna von Pahlen series, which I started last year. These books caused a big controversy when they were originally published in the 30ies, and it’s quite easy to see why. Krusenstjerna seems to almost deliberately step into all sensitive areas she can – abortion, lesbianism, sibling incest – and some things, like her description of masochism, are rare in mainstream fiction even today. The book runs a risk of becoming a sample menu of things shocking, but Krusenstjerna handles her subjects with understanding and subtleness.

There is a definite sense of following a hiking trail though, station to station. Dealing mostly with the young orphan Angela leaving the country estate to go to housekeeping school, this second book makes almost no use of the rich cast from the first installment. Instead we follow her through her first school year, from big life event to big life event, occasionally swapping perspectives to tell someone else’s life story. It’s more a string of anecdotes than a plot, and I’m more than a little worried this whole book will become a parenthesis in the series , all isolated events with little to do with the overall arcs. Still, the handling of the situations in themselves is mostly really good, with several strong moments that will linger. An unexpected bonus is that the housekeeping school is in Strängnäs, my new home town. The sense of place isn’t very strong, but pondering which streets and beaches the characters are walking added to my enjoyment. ( )