Henning Mankell was born on 3rd February 1948 in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1949, his mother left his father to bring up Henning and his older sister, Helena, alone. In 1950, his father Ivar took Henning and Helena to live in Sveg above the law courts where he worked as a judge. Henning’s Grandmother lived with the family in Sveg and was fundamental to his future as she taught him to read and write.

In 1961, his father moved the family to Borås where Henning attended Högre Allmäna Löroverket secondary school. He left school at 16 to become a merchant seaman, which gave him the chance to travel around Europe and America. He returned to Sweden in 1968, at the age of 20, to work as a stagehand in a theatre.

His first novel was published in 1972 only days after his father’s death. In the winter of the same year, Henning travelled to Guinea-Bissau in Africa. From then on he continued to visit Africa regularly until 1987 when he was invited to run the Teatro Avenida theatre in Matputo, Mozambique.

The first book featuring Inspector Kurt Wallander was published in 1989 and became an instant success. Since then there have been ten books featuring Wallander and the series has been made into a BBC One series starring Kenneth Branagh. He has also written a number of thrillers, books for children and teenagers, as well as a book about Aids.

Henning’s keeps his personal life private. He has his four sons from previous relationship and married his third wife, the daughter of the film director, Ingmar Bergman, Eva, in 1998. Henning currently divides his time between Sweden and Mozambique.