| Summary: | This thesis is a study of the press reception of Ebba Witt-Brattström's Århundradets kärlekskrig (2016) and Horace Engdahl's Den sista grisen (2016). The study questions comprise the following; how the critics value the novels, what the critics' expectations are, and if non-literary assessment criteria have influenced the reviews and author personas. The study is performed by examining the critics' description, interpretation, and evaluation of the novels. Reception theory supplemented with literary criticism as well as author persona and medialisation are applied in the study. The conclusion is that Witt-Brattström's novel is highly valued for its contribution to confessional literature. The criticism of her novel is mostly based on the question of whether the novel should be read biographically or not. Engdahl's novel is valued as outspoken and provocative but also unconvincing and criticized for lacking credibility on certain subjects.The critics' horizons of expectation differ between the authors. The expectations of Den sista grisen lead to the fusion of the horizon because it corresponds to the expectations. The expectations of Århundradets kärlekskrig change the critics' horizon as the novel presents a new understanding of a contemporary topic. The non-literary assessment criteria have had an effect. Witt-Brattström addresses the issue of domestic violence and reinforces her persona. Engdahl is described as conservative and weakens his persona. In one area the authors are on the same level, medialisation. It involves an interplay between authors, literature, and media, which Witt-Brattström and Engdahl have mastered.
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