Fårö Island, autumn 1984. A secluded paradise becomes the arena for a devastating family reckoning.
Ingmar Bergman-the world-famous cinematic genius-receives an unexpected final visit from his elder brother, Dag. A retired diplomat and soldier, Dag is dying of MS with only a few weeks left to live. But he hasn't travelled to the isolated, windswept coast of Fårö to say a peaceful, quiet goodbye. He has come to unearth the truth.
Decades before Ingmar became the darling of international cinema, Dag was operating in the stark reality of a world at war. As a young Red Cross worker in Greece during the brutal dark days of World War II, Dag witnessed the absolute limits of human suffering and courage. It was amidst this historical devastation that he found Bessie-a passionate, life-altering love affair that would define his youth, shape his ideals, and leave scars that never truly healed.
While Dag was risking his life on the front lines of human crisis, his younger brother was at home, beginning to construct an empire of smoke and mirrors.
Now, at the end of Dag's life, the brothers share a common secret born from those turbulent years. It is a truth so heavy, so explosive, that it threatens to shatter the carefully polished legacy that the legendary filmmaker has so meticulously built up over decades. Driven by a final resolve, Dag's dying wish is for the world to finally learn the reality behind the myth. Ingmar's final mission is to ensure that his carefully guarded empire remains intact, and that the secret stays buried forever.
Written by the real-life nephew of Dag and Ingmar Bergman, The Lie draws directly on inside family history to pull back the curtain on a creative dynasty built on deception. Rich with atmosphere, historical depth, and intense psychological suspense, this gripping novel explores the fierce animosity, unspoken jealousy, and complex bond between two extraordinary brothers. It is a story of a lifetime of illusions catching up with a genius, culminating in a final confrontation where a family's history hangs in the balance.
Discover the devastating story that will forever change everything you thought you knew about Ingmar Bergman.