Hanning Mankell

Henning Mankell (1948–2015)

Henning Mankell was a Swedish novelist, playwright, and director, internationally renowned for his crime fiction. He gained worldwide fame as the creator of Inspector Kurt Wallander, the central character in a bestselling series of detective novels set in the southern Swedish town of Ystad. These books, beginning with Faceless Killers (1991), have been translated into dozens of languages and adapted into successful films and television series.

Beyond crime fiction, Mankell was an engaged writer who used his works to comment on social and political issues. He split his time between Sweden and Mozambique, where he was involved in cultural projects and often drew inspiration for his novels. His books reflect not only suspense and mystery but also deep concerns about justice, globalization, and human rights.

Henning Mankell remains one of the most influential figures in Scandinavian crime writing, and his Wallander novels continue to attract readers and audiences around the world.