Stand-up comedy and serious literature rarely stem from the same source, yet Jonas Gardell has successfully established himself as one of the most prominent contributors to each of these cultural arenas in Sweden. The shift in public perception of his work, from lighthearted comedy to poignant social irony and criticism, has resulted in an equally dramatic shift in Gardell's performance venues, from restaurants and clubs to the main stage of the Royal Dramatic Theater. Gardell's award-winning novel and greatest critical success, En komikers uppväxt (Growing up a Comedian, 1992), has already earned him a place in the contemporary canon of Swedish literature. The Swedish Publishers' Association recognized Gardell's literary contributions when they chose to send En komikers uppväxt to Swedish schoolchildren on World Book Day, 13 April 2000. As a journalist, dramatist, novelist, moviemaker, songwriter, comedian, and media personality, Gardell is one of Sweden's most prolific contemporary...