The Memoirs of Stockholm Sven is a delightfully interesting story about life in the frozen landmass of Spitsbergen, north of Sweden--one made all the more beguiling with the range of ethnicities--Scottish, Swedish, Russian, Finish, and Ukrainian--Miller includes. The narrative focuses on Sven, a solitary miner who, after suffering a disfiguring accident, pursues an isolated existence as a trapper. Though hoping to escape human relationships, Sven does encounter people and dogs--and some of these become unexpectedly important to his survival.