Carina Karlsson's Märket as “Glocal” Literature

Abstract

Abstract “Glocal” is a term that refers to that which is both “global” and “local.” Åland is an island in the Baltic whose residents are deeply attached to a sense of place and that which is local. At the same time, due to a strong shipping industry, many of these residents have traveled widely. The people of Åland are both citizens of a region with a strong sense of local identity and citizens of the world, hence, “glocal.” Carina Karlsson's Märket (The mark; 2019) is a historical novel that tells of what happened to seven women who were executed for witchcraft on Åland in the seventeenth century. Witch trials, however, were not exclusive to Åland, and Karlsson finds that this local piece of history resonates with what happened across Europe. Moreover, the persecution of unusual or powerful women is something that can be seen in global headlines even today. Märket is a novel that describes a local history specific to Åland, and yet the tale extends well beyond the borders of Åland, depicting common human experience.