Det går an by C. J. L. Almqvist

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Det går an by C. J. L. Almqvist

(2 User reviews) 487

By Steven Martinez Posted on Mar 30, 2026

In Category - Visual Storytelling

Authors: Almqvist, C. J. L. (Carl Jonas Love), 1793-1866 Published By : Almqvist, C. J. L. (Carl Jonas Love), 1793-1866

Book Language: Swedish

Hey, have you ever read something that felt way ahead of its time? I just finished 'Det går an' (It Will Do), and it's exactly that. Published in 1839, this Swedish novel is basically a road trip romance that turns into a radical social manifesto. The story follows Albert and Sara, two young people who meet on a steamboat and fall in love over a few days of travel. But here's the kicker: when they start talking about marriage, Sara drops a bombshell. She doesn't want a traditional wedding or to give up her independence as a glazier. She proposes they live together as partners, free and equal, without the legal and social chains of the time. The whole book is this tense, fascinating conversation about whether love can exist without ownership. It's shocking this was written in the 1830s—it reads like a modern debate about relationships. If you like stories where the real drama isn't in car chases, but in two people daring to imagine a completely different way to live, you need to pick this up.

File: Det går an by C. J. L. Almqvist

Published in 1839, Carl Jonas Love Almqvist's Det går an (often translated as It Will Do or Sara Videbeck) is a short, sharp novel that caused an uproar in its day. It's structured as a simple journey, but the destination is a radical idea.

The Story

The plot is straightforward. Albert, a young sergeant, meets Sara, an independent and capable glazier, on a steamboat trip across Lake Mälaren in Sweden. They're instantly drawn to each other and decide to continue their journey together by carriage. Over a few days, they talk, flirt, and fall in love. It's a charming, old-fashioned courtship—until they start discussing their future. When Albert naturally assumes they will marry, Sara challenges him. She values her freedom, her trade, and her self-sufficiency. She proposes a 'free love' union: they should live together as committed partners, but without a church wedding or a legal contract that would make her his property. The rest of the story is their intense debate. Can love and respect survive without the rules of society to hold it together? The title, Det går an ("It will do"), is Sara's pragmatic, yet hopeful, answer.

Why You Should Read It

What blew me away was how fresh this feels. Almqvist wasn't just writing a romance; he was using these two characters to tear apart the entire 19th-century model of marriage, especially for women. Sara isn't a damsel in distress—she's a businesswoman who owns her own tools and her own life. Her arguments about economic independence and personal freedom are incredibly powerful, even now. Reading their conversations, you're pulled into this urgent, personal struggle between deep affection and a desperate need for autonomy. It’s less about whether they end up together, and more about whether the world has room for the kind of togetherness they envision.

Final Verdict

This book is perfect for anyone interested in the roots of feminist thought, fans of historical fiction that doesn't feel dusty, or readers who love a good, idea-driven character drama. It's not a long or difficult read, but it packs a serious punch. Think of it as a fascinating historical artifact that also happens to be a compelling, provocative story about two people trying to build a new kind of love, one honest conversation at a time. If you've ever wondered where modern debates about relationships really started, this is a must-read.