Vaggeryds bibliotek

The man from the title, Markheim, is at the local antique store to buy a Christmas present for his beloved. The shop’s owner offers him to buy a mirror, but Markheim is disgusted by the idea. Instead he wants to be shown another gift. When the pawnbroker turns to retrieve another piece, he gets stabbed in the back by his client.

Why is Markheim so disgusted by the seller’s proposal? What is the reason for the ruthless murder? Why does paranoia start to overwhelm Markheim? Who is the supernatural visitant with whom he begins a conversation?

This classic short story of mystery, bad decisions, and battle between good and evil takes place in London in the late 19th century.


Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 – 1894) was a Scottish novelist, poet and travel writer. For most of his life, Stevenson suffered from serious bronchial trouble, but kept on travelling and writing. One of his first titles is “Treasure Island”, which is among his most popular novels, along with “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde”, “Kidnapped” and “A Child’s Garden of Verses”. Stevenson’s works have been admired by many other authors.