Downstream · Character

Tord Selamb

Master of Järnö, Tord has posted notices forbidding landing on pain of death and shoots at trespassers, having read too much Darwin and Nietzsche for the family's comfort.

major

Also known as little Tord, Tord of Järnö, the magnificent Tord

First appearance: I: The Cry

See Tord Selamb in I: The Cry Book page

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Tord has withdrawn to his log castle on the dark hill of Järnö, where he fires warning shots at boats and is pursued by the provincial governor for neglect. The family tells stories about him at dinner with a mixture of embarrassment and relish, calling him mad and a philosopher in the same breath. He is the Selamb refusal carried to its logical end: a man who would rather be a living protest against sentimentality than be reconciled with anyone, and the visit Stellan and Laura pay him is one of the novel's great set pieces.

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See Tord Selamb in I: The Cry

Character Web

19 connections

A slice of how Tord Selamb sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Selamb family core
Extended social and noble network
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story’s dramatic climax because Stellan, after searching for Percy in a house that feels alien and…

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In the story

Tord Selamb appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I: The Cry
Tord is put to bed early along with Stellan and Laura.
II: The Robber’s Stronghold
Sulks in a corner, later climbs onto the roof and falls asleep watching mosquito larvae.
Peter the Watchdog
The smallest and weakest child, pushed to sit next to the father at dinner.
September Spring
Tord is mentioned as spending time with the gardener and keeping a fox that was caught in a trap.
IX: Peter the Boss
Tord lives in 'The Rookery' with animals, reads old volumes, and decides to become an animal painter. He takes in a bohemian artist named Eklund. Peter drinks with him and Eklund.
XIII: Tord's Exile
Tord, the youngest Selamb brother, is consumed by loneliness and a restless pursuit of women. He meets Dagmar Bru, takes her in, and eventually marries her, causing alarm among his siblings.
V: Waste
Tord's reckless spending and hatred for Mattson drive the chapter; he evicts the bailiff out of spite.
VIII: Tord Sails Out to Sea
Drives away Stellan and Laura at gunpoint, then descends into loneliness and despair after Dagmar leaves.

Chapter companion notes

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See Tord Selamb in I: The Cry