The Treasure

"The Treasure" by Selma Lagerlöf is a historical fiction story where a struggling fish seller, Torarin, takes a difficult journey in Sweden and explores big ideas like love, sadness, and payback, especially when he learns about a terrible event that happened at a church and the people who lived there, where their lives were taken and now their spirits search for peace. Torarin begins his journey by going on his usual route to sell fish and finds the sea is now frozen, hearing of local happenings along the way, until he gets to Solberga Parsonage and sees a group of the parson's family. Torarin learns about the tragedy, which sets off a chain of events focused on revenge and finding answers. The beginning sets a serious mood with superstition, hints of what's to come, and the effects of a dark past that will be important throughout the story.