Bestselling Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell, author of the Inspector Wallander novels, said today that he had been diagnosed with cancer.

Writing in Swedish daily Goteborgs Posten, Mankell said he had received the diagnosis earlier this year and would write about his experiences in the newspaper. “I have decided to write just as it is,” he said. “But I will do it from the perspective of life, not death.”

Mankell, who was deported by Israel after taking part in an attempt to break the country’s blockade of the Gaza Strip in 2010, said he had a tumour in his neck and one in his left lung. “The cancer could also have spread to other parts of my body,” he said.

The 65-year-old, who as well as crime novels has written several books for children, said doctors were performing further examinations before beginning treatment. “My anxiety is very profound, although by and large, I can keep it under control,” he said.

Mankell’s Wallander books – like those of compatriot Stieg Larsson – explore the darker side of Sweden, providing a counterpoint to the country’s image as a relatively crime-free, tolerant and cohesive society.

The writer has for many years divided his time between Sweden and Africa, living at least six months of the year in Mozambique. Mankell’s books have been translated into 41 languages and sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, according to his publisher’s website. (Reuters)