Summary
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman is a character-driven novel about a failed bank robbery with unexpected results. The novel explores themes of parenting, marriage, mental health, and human connection through a diverse cast of characters brought together by unusual circumstances. Backman's signature blend of humor and poignancy shines through as he navigates the complexities of modern life and the anxieties that plague us all. Critics have praised the book for its wit, compassion, and insightful portrayal of the human condition.
Published in 2019, Anxious People became a #1 New York Times bestseller. In 2021, Backman’s quirky and heartwarming tale was adapted into a popular Netflix miniseries.
Plot
In Anxious People, a failed bank robbery leads to an unusual hostage situation at an apartment viewing. The would-be robber, desperate to pay rent and keep custody of their children, inadvertently takes a group of strangers captive. Among the hostages are a retired couple struggling with their marriage, a wealthy banker, a young couple expecting their first child, an elderly woman, a real estate agent, and a mysterious man locked in the bathroom.
As tensions rise, each hostage's personal struggles and secrets begin to surface. The diverse group, initially at odds, starts to form connections as they reveal their vulnerabilities and anxieties. Meanwhile, the police and media surround the building, adding pressure to the already tense situation inside.
The story takes an unexpected turn when the hostages, sympathetic to the bank robber's plight, decide to protect their captor. They agree to lie in their witness statements, and the elderly woman even offers a neighboring apartment as a hiding place. This act of collective kindness sets off a chain of events that none of them could have anticipated.
In the aftermath, the bank robber finds a new home and shared custody arrangement, the young couple moves into the building and has a baby, the retired couple discovers a new hobby, and the banker begins a relationship and finds closure from a past tragedy. Through this shared experience, these anxious people find friendship, forgiveness, and hope in the most unlikely of circumstances.
Themes
The power of human connection and empathy
Confronting anxiety and mental health challenges
The complexities of marriage and relationships
Parenting fears and unconditional love
The impact of economic systems on individuals
Overcoming assumptions and prejudices
Finding hope and redemption in difficult circumstances
Setting
Set in contemporary Sweden, Anxious People takes place primarily in a small apartment building during an open house viewing. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a bustling urban environment, likely Stockholm or another major city. This setting provides a microcosm of modern society, where diverse individuals from different walks of life converge in an unexpected and tense situation.
The novel's timeframe spans both the present day and events from a decade prior, with flashbacks to a significant incident involving a man's suicide. These temporal shifts allow Backman to explore the long-lasting effects of the 2008 financial crisis on Swedish society and its citizens. The apartment itself becomes a crucible where the characters' anxieties, fears, and hopes collide, reflecting broader societal issues such as economic instability, mental health concerns, and the challenges of modern parenthood.
While the majority of the action occurs within the confines of the apartment, Backman extends the setting to include other significant locations. A nearby bridge serves as a poignant symbol of despair and redemption, while a cashless bank represents the rapidly changing economic landscape. These carefully chosen settings work together to create a rich, layered environment that mirrors the complex emotional states of the characters and the societal pressures they face in 21st-century Sweden.
Characters
The Bank Robber: A desperate parent who attempts to rob a cashless bank to pay rent and avoid losing custody of their children, and ends up taking hostages at an apartment viewing by accident. The bank robber is portrayed sympathetically as someone driven to extremes by difficult circumstances.
Jack: A young, ambitious police officer investigating the hostage situation. Jack initially assumes the bank robber is dangerous but learns to see the humanity in the situation. His experience on the bridge 10 years ago saving a suicidal teen shaped his desire to become a police officer.
Jim: Jack's father and fellow police officer with a more relaxed approach to law enforcement. He shows empathy for the bank robber's situation and helps them avoid capture. Jim struggles to connect with his son but ultimately works with him to resolve the hostage situation.
Zara: A wealthy, depressed banker who attends apartment viewings as a distraction. She is haunted by her interaction with a man who later committed suicide. Zara's journey involves confronting her past and finding unexpected connections with others.
Roger: A retired man obsessed with renovating and selling apartments. He takes pride in his negotiation skills but is unaware his wife orchestrates scenarios to boost his confidence. Roger's arc involves recognizing the value of his relationship over property deals.
Anna-Lena: Roger's wife, who secretly arranges disruptions at apartment viewings to help her husband feel successful. She struggles with feeling unappreciated in their marriage but ultimately finds ways to show her love.
Julia: A pregnant woman searching for an apartment with her wife, Ro. She is outspoken and sometimes combative, especially due to pregnancy hormones.
Ro: Julia's wife, who is anxious about becoming a parent and hesitant to commit to an apartment. She fears she won't be a good mother and struggles to communicate her concerns to Julia.
Estelle: An elderly woman who owns the apartment where the hostage situation occurs. She attends her own viewing to find deserving buyers. Estelle offers wisdom from her long marriage and helps the bank robber.
Lennart: An actor hired by Anna-Lena to disrupt apartment viewings. He appears wearing a rabbit costume and hides in the bathroom during the hostage situation.
The Real Estate Agent: The flustered but professional agent showing the apartment where the hostage situation unfolds.
Quick facts
Anxious People was originally published in Swedish in 2019 under the title “Folk med ångest."
Fredrik Backman’s novel became an instant #1 New York Times bestseller when released in English in 2020.
The story takes place almost entirely within a single apartment during a hostage situation.
None of the main characters are given names in the novel, only descriptors like “the bank robber."
Several characters are connected to a suicide that occurred 10 years before the main events.
The story is told through an omniscient narrator who frequently breaks the fourth wall.
The book features a short story by Backman called “The Last Round of Golf” after the end of the novel.
Anxious People explores themes of parenthood, marriage, mental health, and human connection.
Anxious People was adapted into a Netflix limited series in 2021.
About the Author
Fredrik Backman (1981-) is a Swedish author acclaimed for his heartwarming and insightful novels. His breakthrough came with the publication of A Man Called Ove in 2012, which quickly became a bestseller and was later adapted into two feature films. He has gone on to publish several bestselling novels, including My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, the Beartown trilogy, and Anxious People, as well as a collection of humorous and touching essays on parenthood, Things My Son Needs to Know About the World. His keen observations of human nature and knack for blending humor with pathos have earned him a devoted global readership—his books have been translated into more than 40 languages.
Before becoming a full-time author, Backman worked as a columnist and blogger, honing his distinctive voice and storytelling skills. Despite his global success, he remains grounded in his Swedish roots. He lives in Stockholm with his wife, Neda Shafti Backman, and their two children. He continues to connect with readers through social media, sharing insights into his writing process and personal life.
