History Literature / Overenskommelser

Beatrice Löwenström became an orphan when she was fourteen years old, and now she's had to live with relatives in Stockholm for four long years. But it becomes increasingly difficult for her to stay with them ... Uncle Wilhelm doesn't like independent women, so he does everything so that the intelligent and assertive Beatrice shall ”know her place”. And cousin Edvard admires his father's ”firm hand with women”. Aunt Harriet is ill and weak, so she can't bring joy or comfort to anyone. However, Beatrice is really fond of her cousin Sofia and their companion Mary. And one day, she meets Seth Hammerstaal, a Norwegian business man. Despite his rather humble background, he has become very rich, but many people still only see him as an irritating upstart. And even though he's had affairs with numerous women, Seth still hasn't been able to find ”the right one”. But then he suddenly meets the unconventional Beatrice, and they soon become attached to each other. But their happiness is ruined, when they learn about something terrible. Her uncle Wilhelm has already promised her off, without even asking her what she wants, to the tremendously heinous Count Rosenschiöld! Beatrice can't feel anything but repulsion about this. For not only would the age difference be enormous (he's like forty years older than her), but she knows that Rosenschiöld only is interested in her young body, and he's yet another one of these men, who enjoys ruling women with iron fists. But to keep Sofia from having to marry him instead, Beatrice forces herself to agree to this betrothal. But the feelings between her and Seth are just as strong as they ever were, and thus begins a hard time for them both. Will they ever get more than short moments of happiness together?

"Överenskommelser" has been translated to several languages. It's called "Aegtepagten" (a near literal translation of the original Swedish title) in Danish, "Ein ungezähmtes Mädchen" in German and "Ritratto di donna in cremisi" in Italian.

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: While we can agree that we get a happy ending, we don't get it until after the villains have been able to do whatever they want for years.]]

* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler: While we can agree that it seems like we get a happy ending, we don't get it until after the villains have been able to do what they want for years.]]

* EarnYourHappyEnding: [spoiler: Beatrice and Seth need twenty months to sort things out, so the happy ending sure was over due.[/spoiler]

* PairTheSpair: [[spoiler: Lily and Alexandre]] become this in the end.

* PairTheSpairs: [spoiler: Lily and Alexandre]] become this in the end.

* ThrowTheDogABone: As much as Beatrice has to suffer, she gets a few good moments too. And in the end, [spoiler: she can get married to Seth]].

* BittersweetEnding: This story has either this or a EarnYourHappyEnding.

* EarnYourHappyEnding: This story has either this or BittersweetEnding.

While the main theme of a Romance novel should be a love story, how two lovers will find happiness together, it's possible to cover other themes too. And that's what Swedish writer Simona Ahrnstedt did in her debut novel, "Överenskommelser" (first published in 2010). It's so easy to believe that rich people always have been happy. After all, don't they live in big houses, wear fine clothes, go to fancy parties and have servants to do everything for them? But reality behind the facade can be ugly, maybe even terrifying. This is the story about how a seemingly glamourous life in the upper classes of 1880s Sweden could become a nightmare. The title of the novel can be translated as "Agreements" or "Understandings", refering to a forced arranged marriage...

* TheSociopath: Edvard is a serial abuser of women, he makes a fourteen-year-old girl pregnant and then abandons her, feels no sadness when his sister is seriously ill.

•UnstoppableRage: You would think that after he had [[spoiler: raped Beatrice on their wedding night]], Rosenschiöld would at least not be able to stoop any lower. But he obviously still had the nerve to go into a rage when he found out that she wasn't a virgin.

* BetaCouple: Sofia and her husband Johan have a much less complicated relationship than what the alphas Beatrice and Seth have.

* DiabolusExMachina: This story has a moment of either this, HopeSpot or YankTheDogsChain.
* DiabolusExNihilo: Carl-Jan Rosenschiöld has no backstory, he's just there to be evil.

* HopeSpot: This story has a moment of either this, DiabolusExMachina or YankTheDogsChain.

* TheSociopath: Edvard Löwenström.
* YankTheDogsChain: This story has a moment of either this, DiabolusExMachina or HopeSpot.

Beatrice Löwenström became an orphan when she was fourteen years old, and now she's had to live with relatives in Stockholm for four long years. But it becomes increasingly difficult for her to stay with them ... Uncle Wilhelm doesn't like independent women, so he does everything so that the intelligent and assertive Beatrice shall ”know her place”. And cousin Edvard admires his father's ”firm hand with women”. Aunt Harriet is ill and weak, so she can't bring joy or comfort to anyone. However, Beatrice is really fond of her cousin Sofia and their companion Mary. And one day, she meets Seth Hammerstaal, a Norwegian business man. Despite his rather humble background, he has become very rich, but many people still only see him as an irritating upstart. And even though he's had affairs with numerous women, Seth still hasn't been able to find ”the right one”. But then he suddenly meets the exceptional Beatrice, and they soon become attached to each other. But their happiness is ruined, when they learn about something terrible. Her uncle Wilhelm has already promised her off, without even asking her what she wants, to the tremendously heinous Count Rosenschiöld! Beatrice can't feel anything but repulsion about this. For not only would the age difference be enormous (he's like forty years older than her), but she knows that Rosenschiöld only is interested in her young body, and he's yet another one of these men, who enjoys ruling women with iron fists. But to keep Sofia from having to marry him instead, Beatrice forces herself to agree to this betrothal. But the feelings between her and Seth are just as strong as they ever were, and thus begins a hard time for them both. Will they ever get more than short moments of happiness together?

* AristocratsAreEvil: Count Rosenschiöld.

* BetaCouple: Sofia/Johan and Jacques/Vivienne.

* BigScrewedUpFamily: The Löwenströms.

* DiabolusExNihilo: Carl-Jan Rosenschiöld.

* ExtremeDoorMat: Sofia Löwenström.

Beatrice Löwenström became an orphan when she was fourteen years old, and now she's been forced to live with relatives in Stockholm for four long years. But it becomes increasingly difficult for her to stay with them ... Uncle Wilhelm doesn't like independent women, so he does everything so that the intelligent and assertive Beatrice shall ”know her place”. And cousin Edvard admires his father's ”firm hand with women”. Aunt Harriet is ill and weak, so she can't bring joy or comfort to anyone. However, Beatrice is really fond of her cousin Sofia and their companion Mary. And one day, she meets Seth Hammerstaal, a Norwegian business man. Despite his rather humble background, he has become very rich, but many people still only see him as an irritating upstart. And even though he's had affairs with numerous women, Seth still hasn't been able to find ”the right one”. But then he suddenly meets the exceptional Beatrice, and they soon become attached to each other. But their happiness is ruined, when they learn about something terrible. Her uncle Wilhelm has already promised her off, without even asking her what she wants, to the tremendously heinous Count Rosenschiöld! Beatrice can't feel anything but repulsion about this. For not only would the age difference be enormous (he's like forty years older than her), but she knows that Rosenschiöld only is interested in her young body, and he's yet another one of these men, who enjoys ruling women with iron fists. But to keep Sofia from having to marry him instead, Beatrice forces herself to agree to this betrothal. But the feelings between her and Seth are just as strong as they ever were, and thus begins a hard time for them both. Will they ever get more than short moments of happiness together?

* CompleteMonster: Carl-Jan Rosenschiöld.

* SpoiledByTheFormat: Just when you think that things will get better for Beatrice and Seth, you realise that you still have half the book left to go...

* TheWoobie: Beatrice might be a tough girl, but for many years, it seems like the universe itself is out to get her.

* FieryRedhead: Beatrice herself.

* ShellShockedVetaran: It has been several years since Seth was in war, but he can still have nightmares about it.

* ShelledShockedVetaran: It has been several years since Seth was in war, but he can still have nightmares about it.

While the main theme of a Romance novel should be a love story, how two lovers will find happiness together, it's possible to cover other themes too. And that's what Swedish writer Simona Ahrnstedt did in her debut novel, "Överenskommelser" (first published in 2010). It's so easy to believe that rich people always have been happy. After all, don't they live in big houses, wear fine clothes, go to fancy parties and have servants to do everything for them? But reality behind the facade can be ugly, maybe even terrifying. This is the story about how a seemingly glamourous life in the upper classes of 1880s Sweden could become a nightmare...

Beatrice Löwenström became an orphan when she was fourteen years old, and now she's been forced to live with relatives in Stockholm for four long years. But it becomes increasingly difficult for her to stay with them ... Uncle Wilhelm doesn't like independent women, so he does everything so that the intelligent and assertive Beatrice shall ”know her place”. And cousin Edvard admires his father's ”firm hand with women”. Aunt Harriet is ill and weak, so she can't bring joy or comfort to anyone. However, Beatrice is really fond of her cousin Sofia and their companion Mary. And one day, she meets Seth Hammerstaal, a Norwegian business man. Despite his rather humble background, he has become very rich, but many people still only see him as an irritating upstart. And even though he's had affairs with numerous women, Seth still hasn't been able to find ”the right one”. But then he suddenly meets the exceptional Beatrice, and they soon become attached to each other. But their happiness is ruined, when they learn about something terrible. Her uncle Wilhelm has already promised her off, without even asking her what she wants, to the tremendously heinous Count Rosenschiöld! Beatrice can't feel anything but repulsion about this. For not only would the age difference be enormous (he's like forty years older than her), but she knows that Rosenschiöld only is interested in her young body, and he's yet another one of these men, who enjoys ruling women with iron fists. But to keep Sofia from having to marry him instead, Beatrice forces herself to agree to this betrothal. But the feelings between her and Seth are just as strong as they ever were, and thus begins a hard time for them both. Will they ever get more than short moments of happiness together?

Beatrice Löwenström became an orphan when she was fourteen years old, and now she's been forced to live with relatives in Stockholm for four long years. But it becomes increasingly difficult for her to stay with them ... Uncle Wilhelm doesn't like independent women, so he does everything so that the intelligent and assertive Beatrice shall ”know her place”. And cousin Edvard admires his father's ”firm hand with women”. Aunt Harriet is ill and weak, so she can't bring joy or comfort to anyone. However, Beatrice is really fond of her cousin Sofia and their companion Mary. And one day, she meets Seth Hammerstaal, a Norwegian business man. Despite his rather humble background, he has become very rich, but many people still only see him as an irritating upstart. And even though he's had affairs with numerous women, Seth still hasn't been able to find ”the right one”. But then he suddenly meets the exceptional Beatrice, and they soon become attached to each other. But their happiness is ruined, when they learn about something awful. Her uncle Wilhelm has already promised her off, without even asking her what she wants, to the tremendously heinous Count Rosenschiöld! Beatrice can't feel anything but repulsion about this. For not only would the age difference be enormous (he's like forty years older than her), but she knows that Rosenschiöld only is interested in her young body, and he's yet another one of these men, who enjoys ruling women with iron fists. But to keep Sofia from having to marry him instead, Beatrice forces herself to agree to this betrothal. But the feelings between her and Seth are just as strong as they ever were, and thus begins a hard time for them both. Will they ever get more than short moments of happiness together?

Beatrice Löwenström became an orphaned when she was fourteen years old, and now she's been forced to live with relatives in Stockholm for four long years. But it becomes increasingly difficult for her to stay with them ... Uncle Wilhelm doesn't like independent women, so he does everything so that the intelligent and assertive Beatrice shall ”know her place”. And cousin Edvard admires his father's ”firm hand with women”. Aunt Harriet is ill and weak, so she can't bring joy or comfort to anyone. However, Beatrice is really fond of her cousin Sofia and their companion Mary. And one day, she meets Seth Hammerstaal, a Norwegian business man. Despite his rather humble background, he has become very rich, but many people still only see him as an irritating upstart. And even though he's had affairs with numerous women, Seth still hasn't been able to find ”the right one”. But then he suddenly meets the exceptional Beatrice, and they soon become attached to each other. But their happiness is ruined, when they learn about something awful. Her uncle Wilhelm has already promised her off, without even asking her what she wants, to the tremendously heinous Count Rosenschiöld! Beatrice can't feel anything but repulsion about this. For not only would the age difference be enormous (he's like forty years older than her), but she knows that Rosenschiöld only is interested in her young body, and he's yet another one of these men, who enjoys ruling women with iron fists. But to keep Sofia from having to marry him instead, Beatrice forces herself to agree to this betrothal. But the feelings between her and Seth are just as strong as they ever were, and thus begins a hard time for them both. Will they ever get more than short moments of happiness together?

While the main theme of a Romance novel should be a love story, how two lovers will find happiness together, it's possible to cover other themes too. And that's what Swedish writer Simona Ahrnstedt did in her debut novel, "Överenskommelser" (first published in 2010). It's so easy to believe that rich people always have been happy. After all, don't they live in big houses, wear fine clothes, go to fancy parties and have servants to do everything for them? But reality behind the surface can be ugly, maybe even terrifying. This is the story about how a seemingly glamourous life in the upper classes of 1880s Sweden could become a nightmare...

While he main theme of a Romance novel should be a love story, how two lovers will find happiness together, it's possible to cover other themes too. And that's what Swedish writer Simona Ahrnstedt did in her debut novel, "Överenskommelser" (first published in 2010). It's so easy to believe that rich people always have been happy. After all, don't they live in big houses, wear fine clothes, go to fancy parties and have servants to do everything for them? But reality behind the surface can be ugly, maybe even terrifying. This is the story about how a seemingly glamourous life in the upper classes of 1880s Sweden could become a nightmare...

Beatrice Löwenström became an orphaned when she was fourteen years old, and now she's been forced to live with relatives in Stockholm for four long years. But it becomes increasingly difficult for her to stay with them ... Uncle Wilhelm doesnät like independent women, so he does everything so that the intelligent and assertive Beatrice shall ”know her place”. And cousin Edvard admires his father's ”firm hand with women”. Aunt Harriet is ill and weak, so she can't bring joy or comfort to anyone. However, Beatrice is really fond of her cousin Sofia and their companion Mary. And one day, she meets Seth Hammerstaal, a Norwegian business man. Despite his rather humble background, he has become very rich, but many people still only see him as an irritating upstart. And even though he's had affairs with numerous women, Seth still hasn't been able to find ”the right one”. But then he suddenly meets the exceptional Beatrice, and they soon become attached to each other. But their happiness is ruined, when they learn about something awful. Her uncle Wilhelm has already promised her off, without even asking her what she wants, to the tremendously heinous Count Rosenschiöld! Beatrice can't feel anything but repulsion about this. For not only would the age difference be enormous (he's like forty years older than her), but she knows that Rosenschiöld only is interested in her young body, and he's yet another of these men, who enjoys ruling women with iron fists. But to keep Sofia from having to marry him instead, Beatrice forces herself to agree to this betrothal. But the feelings between her and Seth are just as strong as they ever were, and this begins a hard time for them both. Will they ever get more than short moments of happiness together?

Beatrice Löwenström blev föräldralös som fjortonåring, och nu har hon tvingats bo hos sina släktingar i Stockholm i fyra år. Men tillvaron hos dem blir allt mer en plåga för henne... Farbror Wilhelm gillar inte självständiga kvinnor, så han gör allt för att den intelligenta och viljestarka Beatrice ska ”veta sin plats”. Och kusinen Edvard beundrar ju sin fars ”fasta hand med kvinnor”. Faster Harriet är sjuk och svag, så hon är ju inte till glädje eller tröst för någon. Däremot tycker Beatrice mycket om sin kusin Sofia och deras sällskapsdam Mary. Och sedan träffar hon också Seth Hammerstaal, en norsk affärsman. Trots sin enkla bakgrund har han lyckats bli mycket rik, men många ser ju ännu honom bara som en irriterande uppkomling. Och trots att han har haft otaliga kvinnoaffärer, så har Seth fortfarande inte lyckats med att hitta ”den rätta”. Men så träffar han plötsligt den ovanliga Beatrice, och tycke uppstår snart mellan dem. Men lyckan förstörs av att de får veta något hemskt. Hennes farbror Wilhelm har redan lovat bort henne, utan att fråga henne vad hon vill, till den vidrige greve Rosenschiöld! Beatrice kan ju inte känna annat än avsky inför det här. För det är inte nog med att åldersskillnaden skulle bli enorm, då hon bara är arton år gammal, medan greven är runt de sextio. Utan hon kan ju över huvudtaget inte se något gott drag hos sin betydligt äldre fästman. Hon har nog förstått att han bara är intresserad av hennes unga kropp, och så är han också ännu en av dessa män, som njuter av att få styra kvinnor med järnhand. Men för att Sofia inte skall behöva gifta sig med honom i stället, så tvingar Beatrice sig att gå med på den här trolovningen. Men känslorna mellan henne och Seth är lika starka som någonsin förr, och så börjar en svår tid för dem båda. Kommer de någonsin få något mer än korta lyckostunder tillsammans?