Entertainment • Film

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a Swedish crime novel by Stieg Larsson, first published in 2005 and later translated into English in 2008.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 11, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is a Swedish crime novel by Stieg Larsson, first published in 2005 and later translated into English in 2008. It is the first book in the Millennium series and introduced readers to journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander. The novel became an international bestseller and was widely read in Canada as part of the global boom in Scandinavian crime fiction.

Publication and authorship

The novel was written by Swedish author and journalist Stieg Larsson and published posthumously in Sweden in 2005. An English translation followed in 2008, helping it reach a wider international audience.

Plot and characters

The story follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander as they investigate the disappearance of Harriet Vanger from a wealthy Swedish family. The book blends mystery, crime, and family history.

Place in the Millennium series

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first novel in Larsson's Millennium series. The series later expanded beyond Larsson's original three books under other authors and publishers.

Film adaptations

The novel was adapted into a Swedish film in 2009 and an English-language film in 2011 directed by David Fincher. The 2011 adaptation received major awards attention, including Academy Award recognition.

Key facts

The novel was published posthumously in 2005 and became an international bestseller.
Its original Swedish title is Män som hatar kvinnor, meaning "Men Who Hate Women".
It is the first book in Larsson's Millennium series.
The story centers on a decades-old disappearance and a joint investigation by Blomkvist and Salander.
Two major film adaptations were released: a 2009 Swedish film and a 2011 English-language film.

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Canadian context

The novel was translated into English and became widely read in Canada as part of the global boom in Scandinavian crime fiction. Its film adaptations also reached Canadian audiences in theatrical and home-media release.

Frequently asked questions

Is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo a book or a film?

It is originally a novel by Stieg Larsson; the title also refers to later film adaptations.

What is the original Swedish title?

The original title is Män som hatar kvinnor, which means "Men Who Hate Women".

Who are the main characters?

The central characters are journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander.

When was the novel first published?

It was first published in 2005 in Sweden.

Were there film adaptations?

Yes. Major adaptations were released in 2009 in Sweden and in 2011 in English.

References

Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_with_the_Dragon_Tattoo
Supports: Original title, author, publication date, English translation, series membership, and general description of the novel.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_with_the_Dragon_Tattoo_(2011_film)
Supports: 2011 film adaptation, director, cast, and plot summary.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Girl_with_the_Dragon_Tattoo_(2009_film)
Supports: 2009 Swedish film adaptation and its basis on the novel.
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_(novel_series)
Supports: The novel's role as the first book in the Millennium series and later expansion of the series.
Google Books — https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Girl_with_the_Dragon_Tattoo.html?id=O8GmVV4IGR8C
Supports: Plot elements involving Harriet Vanger, Mikael Blomkvist, Lisbeth Salander, and the novel's themes.
Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/The-Girl-with-the-Dragon-Tattoo-by-Larsson
Supports: Identification of the work and alternate title.