The Red Room

The Red Room (Swedish: Röda rummet) is a satire of Stockholm society, it has frequently been described as the first modern Swedish novel. While receiving mixed reviews in Sweden, it was acclaimed in Denmark, where Strindberg was hailed as a genius. As a result of The Red Room, Strindberg became famous throughout Scandinavia. Edvard Brandes wrote that it 'makes the reader want to join the fight against hypocrisy and reaction'. A young idealistic civil servant, Arvid Falk, leaves the drudgery of bureaucracy to become a journalist and author. As he explores various social activities – politics, publishing, theatre, philanthropy, and business – he finds more hypocrisy and political corruption than he thought possible. He takes refuge with a group of 'bohemians', who meet in a red dining room in Berns Salonger to discuss these matters.