# Tord Selamb — Downstream character guide

> Tord Selamb in Downstream by Sigfrid Siwertz.

**Role:** major

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

**First appearance:** 0000-part-i-i-the-cry

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

Tord has withdrawn to his log castle on the dark hill of Järnö, where he fires warning shots at boats and is pursued by the provincial governor for neglect.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.

## In the story

### [I: The Cry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/chapters/part-i-i-the-cry)

Tord is put to bed early along with Stellan and Laura.

### [II: The Robber’s Stronghold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/chapters/part-i-ii-the-robber-s-stronghold)

Sulks in a corner, later climbs onto the roof and falls asleep watching mosquito larvae.

### [Peter the Watchdog](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/chapters/part-i-iv-peter-the-watchdog)

The smallest and weakest child, pushed to sit next to the father at dinner.

### [September Spring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/chapters/part-i-viii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/chapters/part-i-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/chapters/part-i-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/chapters/part-ii-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/chapters/part-ii-viii-tord-sails-out-to-sea)

Drives away Stellan and Laura at gunpoint, then descends into loneliness and despair after Dagmar leaves.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/characters/tord
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/downstream_se/characters