Stieg Larsson

Saw the Swedish film "The Girl with the Golden Tattoo" yesterday; I have to say that it was one of the finest thrillers I have ever seen. It was tightly constructed, with twist after twist in the plot, had a cast all of whom were brilliant and gripped like a vice throughout. The girl who played the lead, Noomi Rapace, was magnificent; so was the main character, Michael Nyqvist, an investigative reporter who is asked to find the killer of a young girl whose body was never found but was one of a high caste rich family one of whom must have abducted or killed her.
The novel was written by Stieg Larsson who was himself an investigative reporter. He wrote the book but did not bother to try to get it published; he wrote two more first. When he did offer them for publication they were readily accepted. Then, suddenly at the age of fifty, he died of a heart attack; so he never enjoyed their success or the vast amount of money they made. He became, in 2008, the second best-selling author in the world.
Other artists have died before enjoying the success of their works. Alain-Fourier died soon after his only completed novel, "Le Grande Meaulnes", was published; he was killed in WW1 at the age of 28.
The young British film director, Michael Reeves, died at the age of 25 soon after he had directed his now famous film "Witchfinder General"; depressed at its reception - now it's a cult classic - he was found in his flat having taken an overdose, possibly by accident.
"Proud Valley" a film with Paul Robeson set in South Wales was directed by an up and coming talent named Penrose Tennyson who died in a plane crash at the age of 29.
What a waste.