Jan Mårtenson


Jan Per Gösta Mårtenson was a Swedish diplomat who was also known as the author of some 50 Swedish crime novels.

Early life

Mårtenson was born on 14 February 1933 in Uppsala, Sweden, the son of Colonel and his wife Marga. He was the brother of Colonel. Mårtenson became a reserve officer in 1955 and received a Candidate of Law degree from Uppsala University in 1960. Mårtenson later became an honorary member of the Södermanlands-Nerikes nation at the university in 1978.

Career

Mårtenson became an attaché at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1960, serving in Rio de Janeiro, Paris, and New York City. He was Deputy Director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute from 1968 to 1969, an expert at the Ministry of Agriculture from 1970 to 1973, and Secretary-General for the National Committee for the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment from 1970 to 1972. From 1973 to 1975, he was a senior official and head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' Information Office. He then served as head of His Majesty the King's Office from 1975 to 1979, as Deputy Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Disarmament Department in New York City starting in 1979, and was promoted to Under-Secretary-General in 1983. From 1987 to 1992, he was Director-General and head of the United Nations Office at Geneva as well as head of the United Nations Center for Human Rights. He served as Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein from 1993 to 1995, as an Ambassador at the Foreign Minister's disposal from 1996 to 1998, and coordinated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' preparations for the 2004 Olympics.
He chaired the United Nations Committee on Employment and Promotions from 1984 to 1986, was Secretary-General for the UN Conference on Disarmament and Development in 1987, and served as Coordinator for the UN Decade Against Racism from 1987 to 1992. He served on the boards of various human rights institutes, was both Chair and board member of the, and undertook UNESCO missions in Slovenia and Croatia in 1992.
In 1992, he attended the Swedish National Defence College, and from 1999, served as the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps.

Personal life and death

In 1967, Mårtenson married . He died on January 12, 2026, at the age of 92.

Crime novels (Swedish titles)

Helgeandsmordet - Invitation au suicide, Paris, Librairie des Champs-Élysées, 1978Drakguldet - L’Or du dragon, Paris, Librairie des Champs-Élysées, 1982Demonerna Häxhammaren Döden går på museum Döden går på cirkus Vinprovarna - Death calls on the witches Djävulens hand Döden gör en tavla Middag med döden Vampyren Guldmakaren Häxmästaren Rosor från döden Den röda näckrosen Neros bägare Mord i Venedig Akilles häl Ramses hämnd Midas hand Gamens öga Tsarens guld Karons färja Caesars örn Högt spel Det svarta guldet Häxan Mord på Mauritius Ikaros flykt Mord ombord Dödligt svek Ostindiefararen Döden går på auktion Den kinesiska trädgården Spionen Dödssynden Palatsmordet Mord i Havanna Safari med döden Mord i blått Jubileumsmord Den grekiska hjälmen Juvelskrinet Medicis ring Silverapostlarna Elakt spel
  • ''Den engelske kusinen''

Novels under the signature Mårten Janson

About ''Jonas Berg''

Telegrammet från San José Tre Skilling Banco
  • ''Nobelpristagaren och döden''

Other novels

Släkten är bäst Utsikt från min trappa Mord och mat Mord i Gamla stan
  • ''Mord på menyn''

Other publications

32 om kärlek, poemsDrottningholm - slottet vid vattnet, essaySverige Slottet i staden Arvfurstens palats, essayKungliga svenska konstnärer Residens - Svenska EU-ambassader Sofia Albertina - en prinsessas palats, essayAtt kyssa ett träd, memoirsBeridna högvakten Kungliga Djurgården Oss håller inga bojor, oss binder inga band!
  • ''Ridkonsten i Sverige – historien om hästarna, Strömsholm och mästarna''