FOREIGN RIGHTS CATALOGUE 2019 INTRODUCTION ...... 2

PUBLISHERS & BOOKSHOPS ...... 4 INTRODUCTION WINNER OF THE NOVEL COMPETITION ...... 5 FarLit – an abbreviation of – is a cross-organisational SELECTED WORKS ...... 6 project promoting contemporary Faroese literature on the international book market. The project is supported by the Ministry of Culture. RECENTLY SOLD ...... 30

BOOK PUBLICATIONS: 2014-2019 ...... 32

Since the birth of FarLit in 2012 one of the production grants, recently sold works, and main activity is to attend book fairs as they are artist residencies. AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS ...... 36 an excellent platform for introducing Faroese literature. Thus, we attend the London Book Fair Enjoy the read! in a joint stand with our NordLit partners, and BOOKS WITH THE AS TOPIC & LOCATION . . . . . 38 attend Gothenburg and Franfurt Book Fairs with our own stand. Kind regards, ARTIST RESIDENCIES ...... 39 This catalogue presents a wide range of contemporary works and authors selected CONTENT by a literary committée, and a list of book Urd Johannesen NORDIC TRANSLATION GRANT ...... 40 publications the last five years. Furthermore, Literary Coordinator other relevant information on translation and FAROESE BOOK FESTIVAL ...... 42

MY NOTES ...... 43

NORDIC ECOLABEL 541 705 PUBLISHERS BOOKSHOPS WINNER OF THE CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING Bókadeild Føroya Lærarafelags Nám Pedda við Steingøta 9 Hoyvíksvegur 72 FO-100 Tórshavn FO-100 Tórshavn www.bfl.fo www.nam.fo NOVEL COMPETITION HNJ HNJ is the old and cosy book­ Faroese author Oddfríður Marni Rasmussen won the FICTION, NON-FICTION ACADEMIC PUBLISHING shop right in the center of & POETRY Fróðskapur - Tórshavn with a great book Bookshop Association’s novel competion for his novel “Ikki Sprotin Faroe University Press selection and a café as part of Hornavegur 12 Fróðskaparsetur Føroya the shop. fyrr enn tá” (Not Until Then). The committée members, FO-350 Vestmanna J.C. Svabos gøta 14 Buy books online: who evaluated all the 19 manuscripts that were handed www.sprotin.fo FO-100 Tórshavn www.bokhandil.fo www.setur.fo/frodskapur in, had a difficult task ahead but they were not in doubt Mentunargrunnur Studentafelagsins whom to choose as the winner. www.ms.fo ART BOOKS Steinprent Stiðin Skálatrøð 16 In their motivation they say: “With this new novel Faroese literature Hornavegur 16 FO-100 Tórshavn welcomes a new voice. It is a convincing novel written by a convincing FO-100 Tórshavn www.steinprent.com RIT & RÁK author about an important subject which needs to be expressed. Email: [email protected] Rit & Rák Bookshop is located The story is about losing a spouse to brain cancer and it’s the story of Listasavn Føroya in the shopping centre SMS the one left behind which is so skillfully described. Not only is this a Forlagið Eksil Gundadalsvegur 9 in Torshavn and offers a frightening and heartfelt story, it is equally important to have such a Kronprinsessgade 37, 1.tv. FO-100 Tórshavn comprehensive selection of story in . The story has all the right ingredients and 1306 København K www.art.fo Faroese literature in translation. they all work well together to make up a fully composed novel which www.forlagideksil.blogspot.com Buy books online: leaves you with a wish to read it again. The story is exceptionally moving, Gramar www.ritograk.fo Bergsvegur 4 & 6 shocking, sad, honest, realistic, optimistic and relevant. FO-100 Tórshavn The winner of the competition was author www.gramar.fo The prize money was 100,000 DKK and the winner also got a publishing deal with Sprotin. Oddfríður Marni Rasmussen

4 5 SELECTED WORKS: NOVEL EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK

He has been awarded the Faroese national M.A. Jacobsen’s Award for fiction twice, and last year he won the Faroese Book Shop Association’s novel competition with the novel “Ikki fyrr enn tá” (Not Until Then). In the motivation NOT UNTIL THEN the Committée says: “With this new novel Faroese literature welcomes Translated by Marita Thomsen so the doctors could see precisely where Back and forth between departments a new voice. It is a convincing novel the growth was and how big it was and doctors, between doctors and written by a convincing author about 4. and, not least, what the prospects were. departments. Flights to for an important subject which needs Not until all the tests were taken could The future. further tests at the central hospital in to be expressed”. The story is about they see for certain that there was a “Lie still. Don’t speak,” said a Copenhagen for shorter and longer losing a spouse to brain cancer, and it’s tumour in the brain. Not until then loudspeaker. periods of time, and time still hadn’t the story of the one left behind which did Elsa really start changing. Then All the tests were drawn-out. It felt come. Just illness. is so skillfully described. Not only is there was proof beyond refute. like abuse, violent abuse. Attacks. Time And no time. this a frightening and heartfelt story, Not until then. became alien. Neither Elsa nor I could Time grew more and more alien. it is equally important to have such a Her body was strapped to a stretcher recognise time. It always passed too It had not fixed beat. Sprinted when story in Faroese language. The story slowly sliding into the scanner. Elsa quickly, and though we tried to stretch it felt like it, crawled when it felt like has all the right ingredients and they breathed heavily. The only audible it, use it sparingly, it ran away from us it, and all we could do was follow the all work well together to make up a sounds came from the motor conveying faster than we knew how to run. time we had at any given time. ODDFRÍÐUR MARNI RASMUSSEN: fully composed novel which leaves you the stretcher into the scanner and We had a barrage of terms thrown in One thing was that we didn’t with a wish to read it again. The story Elsa’s slow breathing. The sterile our faces, as if the words were a Sunday manage to keep up with time, but in is exceptionally moving, shocking, hospital smell reeked of death rather dinner shopping list. Elsa sat beside me the wake of time came all these strange sad, honest, realistic, optimistic and than life. A pungent emanation from holding my hand. I could see it in her words. IKKI FYRR relevant. The novel was published 22 warm equipment and patient fluids face, I could visualize it, and I could Metastases, February 2019 by Sprotin. assaulting the nostrils. Sometimes my see that she didn’t understand a word glia, thoughts skipped from the sound of the of what was being said, and I tried meninges, scanner to the hospital stench. It felt as to write down all the words, so that I oligodendroglioma, if all my senses had been separated and could look them up online when we got glioplastoma multiforme, ENN TÁ now existed independently. home. The uncomprehending expression fourth grade, Oddfríður Marni Rasmussen (1969) grew up in the village of Title: Ikki fyrr enn tá “Where are you?” on Elsa’s face showed obvious signs of Prednisolone, Sandur on , the Faroe Islands. He is a primary school Pages: 286 “I’m here, love.” stress and bewilderment. A blonde lock adrenal gland cortex, teacher. He has authored 19 poetry collections, of which the Publisher: Sprotin “Where?” caressed her cheek. Her eyes looked chemotherapy, first was published in 1994 and one is being published this Year of publication: “Here,” I said turning away from the empty. Her mouth crimped. The teeth neurone, year. Between 1998 and 2000, he attended “Forfatterskolen”, 2019 apparatus that had eaten Elsa in order dry behind the lips. And a dark blush astrocytomas. English sample to shine through her body and find the circled both eyes. Like a shopping list, so long. The a Writers’ Academy in Copenhagen. Oddfríður Marni available tumour and then spit her out again Almost crimson. words frothed in the mouth every time Rasmussen is also one of two editors of the contemporary like a prune pit. The machine was I had to say them. These were all words literary periodical “Vencil”. supposed to take images of the tumour, A battery of tests followed. Scanners. I couldn’t relate to human beings, and

6 7 SELECTED WORKS: FICTION EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK

Carl Jóhan Jensen has been awarded have left this place. Not been away all But then there is that other thing, the Faroese M.A. Jacobsen’s Award these years. Or for that matter I could whether I dare to know what the heart in literature three times, and is a five as easily be staring at a corpse in that wants to tell me now, or if my brain time nominee for the prestigious windowpane. That is how clear the shies too far from the silence inside. Nordic Council Literature Prize, most full frontal of myself is, cheek resting From all the things unsaid by the others recently in 2016 for his novel “Eg síggi SÆREIN FUGLABÓK AV GLOYMSKU on a spray of black hair. The eyes are also resting here tonight. At the hotel. teg betur í myrkri” (2014). Jensen’s grey, almost like polished mirrors, And there is no need to tell you, work has appeared in literary journals Translated by Marita Thomsen under long and, towards the nose returned to this shrouded town that the and anthologies in Denmark, , 1. bridge, fairly bushy brows. The face thing with me is, firstly, I never found , the Netherlands, Germany and Sweat clings to my body. I could has a vulnerable look of meditation, of the strength for release in anything if the USA. turn down the heat, but instead I’m something pent up. But you can’t read it didn’t give me the space to deny it, In 2017, a collection of his poems was lying here on top of a pale grey quilt. anything else from it. It was always at least once and preferably repeatedly. translated to Portugese and published Huddled against the slats of a gilded like that with me. What couldn’t be Loving for example. Or believing for in Brazil, and a chapter from his 2005 footboard. One foot off the bed, sole read, didn’t exist. And I don’t have that matter. Otherwise they both feel so Title: Sær - ein fuglabók av gloymsku novel, “Tales of Devilry” was featured pressed against the side of the mattress. the imagination to conjure up mental oppressive and definitive. Pages: 388 in the Nordic anthology “The Dark My bent leg draws a gently sloping images either, even of what I know. Secondly, I haven’t been much Publisher: Sprotin Blue Winter Overcoat”. Carl Jóhan convex bow along the footboard, its Say, for example, the area around the for thinking. Not that I am dim or Year of publication: 2017 Jensen celebrated his 60th birthday in weight tugs at the mound so the slit hotel, the harbour and warehouses anything. I have just mostly relied on English sample available December 2017 by publishing his fifth peeks through a tuft of dark hair, ajar. below the lighthouse, well, it’s all there what I sensed in the moment, rather novel: “Sær - Ein fuglabók av gloymsku”. I have curled the right leg up under of course, hidden somewhere. Right than on thoughts that last. Trusted that me. My left hand rests on the calf right where it was the night before last. intelligence. Or maybe I was, all things below the knee joint, fingers splayed Clearly legible in the windowpane considered, what Álvhild thought of CARL JÓHAN JENSEN: across the shin. The wrist on my other when I came to Tórshavn from the me, she whose name was aunt when arm is wedged between thigh and airport and here to the hotel. Bringing she moved herself in with us back then, torso, and the hand is clenched, as if it practically no luggage into the hazy in Brekkugøta, under the pretext of were hiding something in its fist while greenness gleaming off the walls. keeping house for me and the old man. SÆR / EIN FUGLABÓK concealing the lower breast, but the There is no legible way out, though. But in my young mind she was a crow. other one, the upper breast, sags a little Tonight. Fog chokes the town. I still shudder at the whiff of loneliness AV GLOYMSKU with its large irregular pale-red nipple. Inside I see myself etched, as I that clung to her. I observe myself like this, etched mentioned, in a windowpane, because She said to me on the very first day Carl Jóhan Jensen, born in Tórshavn in 1957, is one of the most in the windowpane, and I do it now a flush ceiling light shines its sallow she came, “You are an angel. Neither original and provocative writers on the Faroese literary scene. without any sensation that another me light on me. Over this corpse of mine cold nor hot.” Poet and novelist, Carl Jóhan Jensen is also a prominent figure is haunting me from in there. It strikes with its mottled pallid hide, its hideous It was that spring in the early 1950s, in the public debate on culture and politics in the Faroe Islands. me that you can’t see how lame I am thickset appearance. when the other one took to the attic Since his publishing début in the late seventies, he has produced like this. That one leg is shorter than And in the gloom where the rays chamber. The one whose name was the other and how misshapen the foot don’t quite stretch, it is as if a silhouette mum then, but who was a dove, and eight volumes of poetry, five novels, a collection of essays, as well really is. On the other hand, the skin is emerges behind me and slips out the week after week was busy fading into as satirical rhymes, and he is a regular and respected reviewer of oddly pale to behold on the body, like door in the background. the heavens bristling with resentful the latest in Faroese arts. bird skin. I might just as well never To my relief. cooing.

8 9 SELECTED WORKS: FICTION EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK kmd-foto MARJUN S. KJELNÆS: ÓENDALIG VERA ÓENDALIGA VERA Translated by Marita Thomsen (leon) actually look for it, for me that The Postman Now I am nothing, not would have meant making a Marjun S. Kjelnæs, born in 1974, is a decision about stepping back in trained nurse, but has been working as In the beginning I wrote my really. I am a postman, time, and good rarely comes of a full-time writer for some years. With a name in small letters: leon. such decisions. But when I, by number of 1st place wins in short story And then I just kept on doing who carries messages to chance, saw that somebody had competitions, Marjun S. Kjelnæs was it. It was easier for everyone, I posted the song to their profile, awarded a 3-year grant from the Faroese think. Easier to distinguish me people. I accepted that the decision had from Him: Leon the good, the been made for me. Now I listen cultural fund in 2009. mild, the fair. He, who was my to it on my phone, a tune from grandfather, whom I loved the times gone by. I remember the Predominantly known for her works in way so many others loved Him. For a for? And then all the things you have lyrics. The melody is dreadful, but I children’s and Young Adults literature, long time. The way one tends to love no clue about. I don’t even guess, just have always paid more attention to Kjelnæs is also an author of a number heroes and saints. A lot could be said trudge on in the dark, I don’t really feel lyrics than to music. Have rarely ever of poetry collections and short stories about my grandfather, and still is, but anything anymore, I don’t want to know taken any notice of the whole picture and published her first play “Tóm by others, not me. I remember granddad anything either. What difference is it to of anything. Of course a passage from rúm” (Empty rooms) in 2014, which with my childhood feelings, I sense him man whether he conquers or renounces scripture would pop into my head right garnered many positive remarks from all the way back to before I had words the entire world, and whether he looses now: “… Now I know in part; then audience and critics alike. She is very to express what I felt. Later I tried both or keeps his soul? None. So I have let I shall know fully, even as I am fully versatile and productive, and during not to be like him and to be like him. go of both, and that is how come I known.” Leon the first still drones on the last two years she has written But I failed miserably at both tests, don’t hang on to anything, worldly or like voice-over to my thoughts. The a film manuscript, lyrics for singer- shamed and failed myself and others. spiritual. I no longer make any efforts, scripture has words for every occasion song­writer Eivør, published a poetry Now I am nothing, not really. I neither to change anything, nor come to and every feeling, I also learnt that collection “Opna” and in July this am a postman, who carries messages terms with anything. Everything that early on: “Your word is a lamp for year “Óendaliga vera” - her first novel to people. I take unopened letters and I thought mattered slipped through my my feet, a light on my path.” Well, for adults - was published for which parcels to them, without knowing what fingers. I am leon with small letters, a somewhere along the way mine went she has won a novel competition. A is inside, stuff dragged all the way 52-year-old postman. One day after the out. Somewhere I veered off track. In my number of Kjelnæs’ stories have been Title: Óendaliga vera here from every corner of the world: other takes me by my limp hand and internal desert I take no notice of paths, translated into other languages such Pages: 310 China, USA, Europe. The weight in my leads me sluggishly towards evening. be they broad or narrow. “…Their as French, Norwegian, Danish, and Publisher: BFL hands tells me a little. Books, yes, but I have unearthed a song I used to deeds amount to nothing; their images Icelandic. Year of publication: 2016 what about? Gadgets, sure, but what listen to when I was younger. I didn’t are but wind and confusion.” English sample available 10 11 SELECTED WORKS: CRIME EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK Jógvan Isaksen,born in 1950, holds an MA in Nordic Literature and has taught Faroese literature HELJARPORTUR and language at the University of Translated by Barbara Lætita Méresse Copenhagen since 1986. He has published a range of books about Tuesday, December 27th I’d not had a single drop to drink since Faroese literature and painting, and is primarily know for his crime - Asshole! the obese man in the dark suit Anne Marie had been killed. I didn’t novels set in the Faroe Islands. muttered, quiet but obvious. He looked straight at me for a short while and dare, I was too scared I would lose all Isaksen’s first crime novel, „Blíð er sneered contemptuously before moving summarnátt á Føroyalandi” published onward. I kept my eyes on him and self-control and destroy something. in 1990, made him a household name. noticed his legs were a bit unsteady. He Since then he has written crime novels for wasn’t quite sober. snow had stayed for the duration of the there at certain times and was assigned adults and children, and his works have I didn’t bother. I was used to holiday, but then things had since gone various tasks to perform. It didn’t matter been translated into Danish, German, snapping of that kind, even though I back to normal. The weatherman had to me, nothing mattered anymore after Icelandic, English, Norwegian, and a had to restrain myself from causing a promised less wind and no more rain for what had happened in the spring. My translation into French is in process. scene every time it happened. I didn’t the early afternoon. I doubted it, I had fiancée, who was heavily pregnant with He has written 10 crime novels in the always know the people throwing rude little faith in weathermen. Or it might our child, had been blown up along series about investigating journalist comments at me but I recognised this just be that I wasn’t in high spirits - for with my car. There was no doubt that Hannis Martinsson, and his latest novel man, a ship owner from , who good reasons, in my opinion. the monsters responsible for the explosion “Heljarportur” is his fourth in the series had secured a fair amount of fishing Several of the passengers looked at had wanted to kill me, but fate had about detective William Hammer. A quotas. me inquiringly, but were quick to avert decided otherwise. I claimed the lives TV series based on the crime novels I was standing with a customs officer, their gaze when I returned it. Many of of eight leading Faroese businessmen about investigating journalist Hannis watching passengers who had arrived them knew who I was; they had seen me in revenge, most of whom were burned Martinsson is also in the pipeline. on the midday flight from Copenhagen. in the media, and might be wondering alive. They were responsible for what The plane had only been about half- what to make of this. I found the had happened so I believed this to be JÓGVAN ISAKSEN: full as most of those who went away for women generally more friendly-looking well-deserved. That, however, was Christmas also stayed away for New than the men, and on several occasions, not quite how the authorities looked Year’s. There wasn’t much to come home I noticed someone winking at me. These upon it but no case was ever brought to, especially as far as the weather was invitations didn’t touch me. As with forward against me, mostly because the Title: Heljarportur concerned. I found myself thinking the grumpy man earlier, I just let them two policemen working with me at the Pages: 294 about a Christmas story, the first lines slip by, unnoticed. My main feeling was Skansin department had managed to Publisher: Marselius of which read: „It was the best of that I didn’t have much in the way of prove the same men had been behind Year of publication: 2017 Christmas weather: storms and rain, feelings. I felt indifferent to everything. the car bomb. That they had wanted English sample available and fog over the mountaintops“. I had been working at the airport for to get rid of me because I’d stepped on HELJARPORTUR That’s precisely how the weather a few months, in a freelance position their toes as manager of the Skansin had been for the past 24 hours. The within the police force. I had to be department.

12 13 SELECTED WORKS: CRIME EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK HORVNA RÓSAN Translated by Dann Vinther

1. dead talk about? Was it the tunnel I truly loved this woman. And What’s life all about? through which he was going to travel when the idea struck me many into the land of the dead? Suddenly years ago, I was repulsed by my reality struck him. The panic hit sick plan. I just hoped it all was And when we die, him like a bullet shot through the some kind of misunderstanding. back of his head. He tried everything We would both be getting on with maybe that’s when life he could to get up off the floor. He our lives and think and live like had hit his head so hard that the responsible adults. We were not really begins… connection between his brain and going to let the past eat us up. the rest of his body seemed to be cut But now I’m filled with anxiety about guess this is little more than just normal, off. But he could feel the fingers on his all this, worried that it will end in everyday life. A few slices of life’s bitter left hand. The phone!? It lay on the Title: Horvna rósan a . She’s persecuting me. I just bread. A tale of indifference and hatred table. That much he could figure out in Pages: 382 cannot seem to shake her off my tail. in which the musician was trapped, and all his inner turmoil. After trying for Publisher: Innskot My thirst for revenge is growing the songbird was killed. what seemed like an eternity, he finally Year of publication: 2018 stronger by the day, and I’m feeling I haven’t touched my piano all managed to lift his arm up to the edge English sample available more determined than ever. I should week. It’s as if the keys are yearning to of the table. He tried to pull himself up probably go see a shrink, but I know be massaged by my fingers. There’s a from the floor, but his weight was too what the problem is. I know the story disturbing dissonance inside of me. The much for the old oak table top which In 2015 Steintór Rasmussen better than anyone else. There’s a dark resonance frightens me and it’s messing tipped over, sending the ceramic teapot STEINTÓR RASMUSSEN: published his biography but unmistakable theme running with my head. If I am to start playing smashing to the floor. With it went a “Lívið er mítt listarverk” which throughout it. I see how it’s going to end, in tune again, there is only one thing mug and two beer bottles, followed by gives an account of his great and that makes me shiver. to do. his laptop and his book, ‘TÓKI 666 HORVNA RÓSAN contribution to Faroese music Killing another person is an appalling poems’. And then the entire table top life and cultural heritage in thing to do. What did we do in our 2. crashed straight down into his face. Steintór Rasmussen (b. 1960) is a teacher by profession. He is a general. “Deyðin fer í bindiklubb” younger days, back when our love He lay helplessly on his back in a As he lay there crushed and helpless well-known cultural entrepreneur and musician and has written from 2016 is his first crime novel was blossoming? Suddenly everything tepid puddle of beer in a small flat on on the floor, more dead than alive, he numerous songs and lyrics which have become part of the and the first in a series of four withered and died. Our passionate love Hamletgade in Copenhagen. Like a could suddenly hear her somewhere in novels. “Hevndin úr havsins dýpi” national music dna in the Faroe Islands. In 2006 he was awarded did not create a new life – at least not tortoise stuck in its ways. He had no the distance. There was a ringing sound was published in June 2017 and in the shape of a child. Instead, she idea how long he had been lying like in the room. But his left hand, probably the M.A. Jacobsen’s Award for children’s culture for the CD the third and fourth novel in ended up regarding me as a freak, and this. All sense of time had vanished. broken, was trapped under the table. collection “Kular Røtur”. Steintór has written a number of crime the series, “Horvna rósan” and she’s been trying to cast me off ever since. He looked up at the bright lightbulb He was unable to move his legs and his mysteries and stories for children and young adults. “Seytjandi maðurin” were I could write an entire book about hanging from the ceiling. Was this the hands, let alone operate the phone. It published in 2018. everything that has been shattered. But I light that those who return from the was impossible to call for help.

14 15 SELECTED WORKS: SHORT STORIES EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK KATRIN OTTARSDÓTTIR: 43 BAGATELLES

43 BAGATELLIR CROSS SKITTLES

The clouds were just as invitingly soft as they had been When she had decided to enter the store with no money, she Film director Katrin Ottarsdóttir’s debut poetry collection forty years ago when he had moved abroad and planned to knew she would be coming out with something that wasn’t hers. “Eru koparrør í himmiríki” (Are there Copper Pipes in never come back - until now. And he was only back to play his The kids were constantly going on about the candies and Heaven) (2012), was a groundbreaking event in Faroese last concert. He didn’t know how much time he had left. The the caramels and all the other stuff that was always on display poetry – and Faroese literature as a whole – and the book doctors weren’t optimistic; he was indifferent. in the store, making your mouth water and just waiting to be was awarded the M.A. Jacobsen’s Award in literature 2013. His father and him couldn’t see eye to eye. His mother chose stolen. She loved sweets. So did her father. It was their mutual early on to side with his father, even though it hurt her. That secret, something her mother could never find out about. But she was just the way it was. His father never got over the fact that never had any money of her own for all those tempting sweets. his son chose rock music instead of law. His older brother wasn’t She stands in the store, hasn’t taken anything yet. The friendly In her poems Ottarsdóttir pries are psychologically intense often Title: 43 Bagatellir as competent, didn’t count. It didn’t make things easier for his cashier smiles at her so pleasantly, thinks she is so adorable and back the screen of privacy to reveal with an unexpected twist at the Pages: 92 father when he started playing in a band with longhaired young looks just like her mother. She plans on only taking something the dark and dysfunctional private end. Publisher: Forlagið Torgard men who stuck their tongues out at every father in the world. small, something nobody will notice. Just a little bag of Skittles. life of a home where a mentally Year of publication: 2018 He doesn’t plan to visit anyone. He’ll pretend that he’s in yet Definitely not one of those big, expensive ones. Deep inside she unstable, drug abusing mother Katrin Ottarsdóttir graduated English sample available another foreign country, playing yet another concert. He’s come knows that stealing is stealing no matter what the size. But she terrorizes her weak husband and 1982 as a film director from the full circle. His story ends here where he first saw the light of day. also knows that she really wants to be like the other kids that neglects her daughter. Seldom, Danish National Film School and He plans on giving everyone something to remember. He’s going dare to steal all kinds of stuff. Or just a little bit like them. maybe never before had there been is a pioneer in Faroese filmmaking. to invite the bums downtown and the homeless, his spiritual She lets the small bag disappear up her sweater sleeve. It’s published such a blunt, strong and Her debut feature film, “Atlantic family. He doesn’t care if nobody else comes. easy as pie and so she sneaks another one up her sleeve for her and yet sensitive portrayal of a Rhapsody” (1989), was the first father. On her way out again she smiles at the cashier, who childhood in a dysfunctional family. Faroese professionally produced He howls over the rocking crowd, surprised that everyone is so immediately begins talking about how nice it is when kids aren’t In 2015 Ottarsdóttirs released her feature film. She has written and young, practically kids, including the girl with the enticing ass. cheeky and just steal from her. The cashier pats her on the head second poetry collection “Messa directed 4 feature films e.g. the He’s still got that youthful masculinity in him and feels it stir and gives her a lollipop for being so sweet. fyri einum filmi” and most recently award-winning road movie “Bye inside him. a collection of short stories Bye Blue Bird” (1999) and most It’s long ago now. She still has the Skittles. Unopened. She had “Aftanáðrenn” (2016) 13 somewhat recently “Ludo” (2014) which The hotel room is homey. Helps him forget where he is in often planned to return them. But that was harder than stealing surreal short stories about is based on one of the poems the world. He pulls the pants off the drunken girl. He can’t them, so they remained under the Lego blocks. The other kids vulnerable characters struggling in her debut poetry collection. remember when he was last this turned on. As he moves on top never got to know about it either. It was enough to know it for with inner demons and obsessions Ottarsdóttir’s documentaries of her he notices the familiar silver cross around the girl’s neck. herself – that she also dared. which often has fatal consequenses include two portraits of her fellow It looked exactly like the cross he gave the only woman he had for their relationship with family, Faroese writers Jóanes Nielsen and ever loved; the woman he didn’t get to have forty years ago. Translated by Lena Anderssen lovers and other people. The stories Tóroddur Poulsen.

16 17 SELECTED WORKS: SHORT STORIES SÓLRÚN MICHELSEN: SUNDAY I wake up first. Look over at him. I like watching against the floor. He’s got the boy in his arms, the and Mikal have been neighbours for many years. him while he sleeps. He looks so innocent. When little one holding on tight to his father’s neck. He’s quite a bit older than Mikal. Always wears he’s awake, it’s almost like he’s on guard all the an open, semi-fluffy, checkered shirt outside of his time. Even though he’s sleeping, I think he can “Sit beside you,” he says and so Mikal takes the white undershirt and jeans. He has a thick, gold sense that I’m watching him. Ever so slightly his highchair and places it next to his, pushing my chain around his neck and is unshaven, as usual. eyes and mouth begin to stir. Mikal is starting to chair aside. The hair on the top of his head has begun to thin. put his guard’s mask on. He stretches and smiles. I look at the child, who doesn’t want to look at me “A good friend to have,” says Mikal. “Especially “Good morning. Sleep well?” He turns onto his but looks only at his father. when I’m single.” Title: Morgunfrúa side and kisses me. Pages: 172 “Yes,” I reply. “How about we go for a long walk this I’ve asked Janus if he could babysit from time to Publisher: Sprotin “He didn’t come in last night.” afternoon?” I ask. “Janus can take care of him.” time. So I should be grateful. Year of publication: 2018 “No,” I answer. I don’t tell him that he’d been here “How grateful?” he had asked. English sample available but that I shooed him out again. “Good idea,” he says and smiles. “But we don’t Now he frequently babysits the boy. Mikal waves need a babysitter. We’ll just take him along in the back. The room is bright. The curtains swoosh lazily baby buggy. away from the breeze coming through the opened We stroll through the town and into the valley window. Thin lace curtains. Like an old fashioned “Pew! Something sure stinks,” I say and get up. where the grove is. I’ve walked here before. But wedding veil. Bobbin lace. A bride striding down Mikal answers that he was going to change him that was with Ronni. We had our spot. Ronni the aisle towards the finishing line. A lamb dressed now. The little kid looks at me, a bit cross-eyed, had said that he worshipped me. That he loved for slaughter. I hate lace. Mikal says he doesn’t like the one eye gravitating towards his nose. When it’s everything about me, from my hair down to my MORGUNFRÚA change. just the two of us I don’t let him leave the potty pinky toe. He kind of had this certain habit. Sólrún Michelsen (1948) made her she was awarded the Faroese M.A. in Denmark and Norway in 2017. until something’s in it. Every time, before we got up again, he kissed me debut in 1994 with the short stories Jacobsen Literary Award. The novel Sólrún’s short stories “Some People He kisses me again and I can see that certain on my knee, then he’d pee in the river that ran collection for children, “Argjafrensar”, has been published in Denmark, Run in Shorts” was selected for the morning look in his eyes, but I don’t feel like it After lunch we get dressed and go for a walk. He alongside us. He gave each visit marks. Had a and has since published several Norway and Germany. Her latest Nordic short stories anthology “The right now and hurry out of bed, throw my clothes talks to the boy the whole time. little pocketbook for just that. Here he wrote the books for children as well as poetry novel, “Hinumegin er mars”, from 2013 Dark Blue Winter Overcoat” edited by on and go out to the kitchen. I can hear him sigh, “Do you see this? Do you see that?” date and gave it a mark. and short stories collections. Sólrún is a gripping novel about a woman Icelandic poet Sjón and published but then he gets up and heads directly to the boy’s “You’re so quiet,” he tells me. Up until he started worshipping someone else. was awarded the Faroese Children’s caring for her elderly mother with in 2017 by Pushkin Press. The same room. I don’t answer. Literature Award in 2002. In 2004 dementia. The novel was nominated story was printed in the new literary she published her first novel for for the Nordic Council Literature magazine Boundless launched on 4 “Are you awake, sweetie?” They mumble for a We walk down the hill. Janus waves from the adults, “Tema við slankum”, for which Prize in 2015 and has been published December 2017. while. Then I hear the soft sound of naked feet house next door. Janus is almost like family. Him Translated by Lena Anderssen

18 19 SELECTED WORKS: POETRY EXTRACT FROM GUDAHØVD JÓANES NIELSEN: GLASS HOUSES THE BRIDGE Jóanes Nielsen, born in 1953, made his debut in 1978 with the poetry collection A common chiffchaff hit a kitchen window in Norðdepil. What is a village? “Trettandi mánaðin” . Since then he has Three days before, the same bird had been banded Two houses at Lista Bird Observatory just south of Stavanger. One on each side of the river GUDA- written several plays, short stories, poetry The crash was barely audible Spanned by a bridge collections and novels, many of which have and maybe the chiffchaff was already dead The rest is details. been translated into other Nordic languages. when rough northern hands cautiously picked him up But the bridge is a town’s hope. HØVD with a glove and carried him into the kitchen. There was no first aid equipment up there in the north –– no cervical collar for the bird’s twisted neck, THE HEART NORDIC Nielsen’s works deal with not even an oxygen mask to fit over a tiny beak. political and existential For three days his nine-gram body drifted along on the wind The heart COUNCIL issues, with alternating approximately 850 kilometers from Stavanger to Norðdepil. trusty bodyguard of the body use of irony and sarcasm Then he hit the kitchen window. Didn’t he know its four chambers LITERATURE to scrutinise the construct that humans live in glass houses? registering joy and torment PRIZE NOMINEE! of society. Jóanes Nielsen as it pumps out calendarless days. has been awarded the The heart will not lay down in the straw M.A. Jacobsen’s Award in DOORPOST to take in the scent of loam in the aorta. literature on two occasions, The heart doesn’t have a babysitter lastly for his novel from When my children were still growing to take over on Saturday nights. 2011 “Brahmadellarnir” I would carve their height into the doorpost, Everytime the ear hears a Keith Richard riff for which he was also with their name or sees eyes sees pubic hair bristling from the edges of panties, nominated the Nordic measurements and date it grows clamorous and grips the chest’s rim with all its might. Council Literature Prize beneath the mark. Every second in 2013. The sequel Now that they are full-fledged and gone, the whole life through, “Bommhjarta” was I ask myself its bloody chambers are filled and squeezed out. published by MS in which doorpost I should carve my loneliness into. Just one missed beat 2016. “Gudahøvd” is would be one too many Nielsen’s most recent and death would wall up its entrances and exits. poetry collection and has WAITING ROOM Title: Gudahøvd awarded him with another Pages: 84 nomination for the Nordic He’s waiting for a liver Publisher: MS Council Literature Prize. now he’s pickled his own. Year of publication: 2017 Rights are sold to Denmark On the outskirts of existence English sample available and Norway. he dreams that someone who’s a DNA match will be hit by a car or choke on a fishbone. Translated by Matthew Landrum

20 21 SELECTED WORKS: POETRY EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK RANNVÁ HOLM MORTENSEN: Islands and internally. In 2008 Title: Sólsmakkur Rannvá Holm Mortensen, Pages: 106 an artbook about her work born in 1950, is a painter Publisher: Sprotin was published by The Faroese THE words every wave and printmaker. She is Year of publication: 2018 Art Museum. ”Sólsmakkur” is bodily fragments my sister self –taught, but took part English sample available her debut. in them my uterus in Metáfora International live high tide and low tide a doll Workshop in Barcelona, SUN’S the knot in the chest that opens its eyes in 2013/2014. Her and the grenade in the hand when you set it down art ranges from paintings, the bells ringing Angelus i drag the sun with me to bed prints, installations and at five o´clock in the morning to better warm TASTE the agony the beast of the night text to sculptures. In recent Translated by Matthew Landrum in shattered icicles years, she has also worked the skulls of small birds once in Lisbon with textile, writing, book i must go back ringing in the silence as chaste i stumbled illustration and interior to the smell of my childhood a cleft moon as Gaudi’s turrets onto a dolls hospital decoration. Her subjects are back to the story a violin bow over-brimming with fruit from the windows often rendered in organic of blood and milk a string of a contrabass and praise stared long queues shapes and human forms in of dresses a harmonica in C major of dolls faces hanging silently in the wardrobe for a paralyzed hand let us breed androgynous limbs lush green underwater worlds, a ribbon womanly words of alabaster and many of her collages i remember the morning a pair of mary janes that shoot forth vegetation with pastel colors convey an element of social the last time i went a milk tooth rustling dolls dresses politics. Rannvá Mortensen to sunday service a new laces regularly exibits in the Faroe it had become a nightmare little Shulammite Jesus bleeds hemstitches to wear stockings, patent-leather shoes eyelids on my dress and miniature porcelain and shivery sunday clothes gray with ashes and you pull my hair teacups the words from the podium with the last octave in your thirst there were shelves with glass pressed their crown of thorns of the minarets in Raqqa eyes onto on my fresh-combed head hanging from your ear the trees and tiny instruments so that i got a bloodtaste in my mouth in your eyelids have green voices used for mending and hell burned beneath my dress horror the sun lives broken childdreams and broken dreams in every window small lamps shining solitary children your golden neck sheep and cattle in colorful playhouses knock on still smells of dates fly off to the heaven inside time had stopped SÓLSMAKKUR gapped openings little Shulammite and this profound longing its grinding mill stopped like snipped ovaries your blue lips my blood pinched off by dollfingers what was it form a last word is the sea

22 23 SELECTED WORKS: POETRY EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK KORALLBRUNI KORALL- Translated by Lena Anderssen

petrified I swim towards land I I the ocean: BRUNI digging my nails into the rocky am am peace waits in the deep-sea sand shore crimson white “Undulating I bury myself under the stones cut my fingers feel the graininess the blood runs my a slimy snail stick against the slime slowly down the obscure darkness blood underneath throb quietly in the sand” as I lose my grip and the heart’s shell the ocean I Title: Korallbruni am the sea snail heart: Pages: 48 I white “dig myself up Publisher: Forlagið Eksil sinking am feel the new current Year of publication: 2018 mercilessly crimson my heart wash fondly English sample available further carries and the skeleton further on the outside I away am from green-brown crabs gather yellow ANNA MALAN JÓGVANSDÓTTIR: the fix their claws Anna Malan Jógvansdóttir, born 1995, has just finished her two year sunbeam into the cold meat lay my roe course at Forfatterskolen (Authors’ Academy) in Denmark. She made gash open the ribcage the ocean: deep in the seaweed forest her debut in 2015 with the poetry collection “Undirfloyma”. In 2016 “I hope your calcium is strong Anna Malan was awarded the National Culture Prize for young talents. a storm is coming” I Her second poetry collection “Korallbruni” was released in 2017 by am Forlagið Eksil. The poet says that “Korallbruni” is an attempt to write lying at the bottom the sea snail heart: yellow” herself out of human nature and into nature and let nature take skin ice white the sea snails catch my scent “I can hear it sing control. With this poetry collection Anna Malan wants to remind us blood wounds crawl through the ribcage through the spiral shape” that we need to reconsider our place on Earth, and that earthly matter eyes stare fattening themselves on the blue is not just dead and idle but a part of everything, not least ourselves. empty blue muscle

24 25 SELECTED WORKS: CHILDREN WINNER OF EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK THE NORDIC BÁRÐUR OSKARSSON: COUNCIL CHILDREN AND The Tree YOUNG PEOPLE’S LITERATURE PRIZE Translated by Marita Thomsen One day on his way home Hilbert and Bob are friends. “I have always known how to fly. I TRÆIÐ from the shop Bob stopped and run and then I just jump into the thought… “I wonder what is But Hilbert is a bit of an odd air… And then I fly,” said Hilbert.

Bárður Oskarsson on the other side of that tree “You haven’t seen me, because I fly BÁRÐUR OSKARSSON one, and Bob doesn’t quite over there?” pretty fast. And also I fly very high know whether to believe in the sky. He had been all the way over Bob picked up his carrot. He was a Hilbert og Bob eru vinir. TRÆIÐ everything Hilbert says… Men Hilbert er ein snedigur to the tree once, but he couldn’t little doubtful and asked, “but can’t snigil, og Bob veit ikki ordiliga, see what was on the other side. you show me then?” um hann skal trúgva øllum, sum Hilbert sigur ... TRÆIÐ And then a dog came along, quite imagine what could be further and then Bob had to run away. away than the tree. No, I have just flown, and I’m a little “Oh yes, I have travelled around the tired now, because I have to lie flat in Title: Træið As Bob was thinking, Hilbert came whole world,” said Hilbert. the air for so long,” Hilbert excused Pages: 32 walking towards him. himself. Publisher: BFL “AROUND THE WHOLE WORLD?” “But just a little bit,” said Bob “Just Year of publication: 2017

BFL When Hilbert reached Bob he asked Bob thought he had heard wrong. It right up in the air and down again?”

English sample available 978-99972-0-167-6 BFL 2017 him why he was just standing there. sounded just a little incredible and he “No, no, but maybe some other time… Bob said, “I have never been to the other hesitated, because Hilbert had never not now,” Hilbert replied and looked up side of that tree, and I would like to see been gone for long. And it takes a towards the sky first for a moment and what is there.” long time to travel around the whole then over at the tree for a moment and Bárður Oskarsson, born in 1972, is a Faroese author and illustrator. He started out as an world… then back up to the sky again. illustrator for the Faroese Children’s Magazine and the first book he illustrated was one of “Oh, there are just more trees, dogs and “But how can you have been around the his grandfather’s in 1992: “Undir tussafjøllum”. Since then he has illustrated books by several other animals. Nothing special really,” world, when you are always here?” asked “Ok…” said Bob. Faroese authors. Hilbert replied, and was about to talk Bob. And then they stood there a little while about something else. “Well, it is a little strange, but I can fly, longer without saying anything. and then it doesn’t take that long.” In 2004 he published his first book, (IYL) in Munich, Germany, for being has been awarded with several local “WHAT? YOU HAVE BEEN “Right,” said Hilbert, “I have to go to both written and illustrated by especially noteworthy. and international literature prizes. His THERE?” Bob asked amazed. “FLY!?” shouted Bob and nearly hopped. the shop.” himself: “Ein hundur, ein ketta og ein Bárður Oskarsson’s illustrations most successful book “Flata kaninin” “Oh yes, several times, and much further It sounded totally wild that Hilbert And then he left. mús” (A Dog, a Cat and a Mouse). The are unique; they resemble cartoon (The Flat Rabbit) from 2011 has been than that, because there is nothing could fly. Walking. book enjoyed great success and was illustrations and clearly convey translated into ten languages with interesting there.” “I have never seen you fly,” said Bob designated as a White Raven in 2006 moods and atmospheres in a tiny future publications in the UK, Ukraine “Further away than the tree?” asked cautiously, “how do you do it? Bob spent quite a long time looking at by the International Youth Library wink or a minute movement. Bárður and Italy in the pipeline. Bob and dropped his carrot. He couldn’t “Like this! Can you see?” the tree over there before he went home.

26 27 SELECTED WORKS: NON-FICTION EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK

Title: Boðskapurin í trænum Author: Nils Ohrt Title in English: As told in Wood EDWARD FUGLØ Translation: Poul Guttesen Pages: 176 Publisher: Sprotin Year of publication: 2017 BOÐSKAPURIN Published in English Í TRÆNUM AS TOLD IN WOOD Edward Fuglø (b. 1965) is a major contemporary Faroese As Told in Wood is an exploration the viewer to engage this story. For a discussion on the making of the reliefs artist, who puts his society under the microscope. He cuts it of a major work in recent Faroese example, how are you, the viewer, to read and the materials used. into slices and studies its different layers and sectors, each art, “Jesus of Nazareth” by Edward the depiction of Jesus calming the storm in their own turn. Through his ‘experiments’, he maps society, Fuglø. The work, commissioned for the when you realise that the two pieces of The body of the book explores the content the good as well as the bad. But he infuses it with warmth. congregational hall of King Christian’s driftwood embedded in that particular of each relief. These expositions are Even as he points out its absurdities, contradictions and Church in the town of Klaksvík, consists relief are from local boats lost at sea? inspired by how the reliefs’ rich semantic idiocy, he forgives – even laughs at – the many mistakes his of ten circular reliefs, made in wood, content is framed by their simple and compatriots commit. He is simultaneously an outsider and with motifs from the life of Jesus. The In As Told in Wood, Nils Ohrt, an gripping stories. Ohrt’s deft discussion of a very Faroese artist. In the Faroe Islands, his iconic and reliefs are simultaneously simple and art historian and the director of the each relief’s narrative content, theological forceful works may be explored in the National Gallery of the richly layered, traditional and modern, National Gallery of the Faroe Islands, symbolism, art historical allusions and Faroe Islands and in many public places, which have made intertwining stories from the Bible with analyses the reliefs’ motifs and meaning, local references introduces the reader to his art accessible to a wide audience that experience them local narratives. exploring the various layers on which the depth and breadth of the work. But on a daily basis in schools, hospitals and other institutions, they work. His discussion is richly it is not answer, a key to what the reliefs both public and private. Though the scenes from the life of Jesus illustrated with a wealth of photographs. means. Rather, Ohrt offers the reader are immediately accessible even to Before turning to a discussion of each a rich and learned exploration of the Jesus of Nazareth (featured in the book “As Told in Wood” the children who visit the church, the relief, Ohrt commences with a general space in which the viewer can explore written by Nils Ohrt) is one of Fuglø’s major works and unique reliefs are not mere pictorial duplicates presentation of the context in which and experience this major work in recent in his oeuvre, being an overtly religious work. However, of the Gospel stories. By embedding the reliefs are embedded. This includes Faroese Art. though both motif and context are a departure from Fuglø’s art historical, theological and local their relationship with both the church’s other works, Jesus of Nazareth retains his inquisitive bent. references in his work, Fuglø opens up an architecture and its other decoration. The book concludes with a brief As viewers are drawn into the ancient stories, they are also, interpretive space, creating a wealth of An account is also made of both the exploration of two other related works through a variety of contemporary twists, asked to consider semantic possibilities for the viewer. As reliefs’ place in Fuglø’s oeuvre and to the by Edward Fuglø and the artist’s own how these stories might intersect with their own lives and such, the reliefs not only explore themes important role art historical themes play reflections on the making of “Jesus of history. in the central Christian story but invite in them. The introduction concludes with Nazareth.”

28 29 RECENTLY SOLD

going back to the Faroe Islands, because featuring Faroese author William all relations between the characters are his friend, Sonja Pætursdóttir, has been Heinesen’s visual art works was released disorted, divided and perverted and this found dead on a mountain. The police in 2016 by Sprotin with text in Faroese is what makes the stories so intriguing. RECENTLY SOLD regard it as an accident, but Hannis feels and English by Bárður Jákupsson, Rights have been sold to Denmark. there’s something else going on. And artist and former head of the National soon, he himself has been involved, and Art Museum. Rights have been sold HON SUM RÓÐI EFTIR ÆLABOGANUM FRACTURA NASI must risk his life to find the truth. Rights to Denmark and Forlaget Torgard has Falling in love, friendship and betrayal Bárður Oskarsson BOMMHJARTA have been sold to Denmark, Norway and published the book in Danish. are some of the themes in this fast- BÁRÐUR OSKARSSON The best selling novel in the Faroe “Bommhjarta” (Candy Heart) is a novel Canada. paced coming-of-age fiction novel about Islands in 2017 was “Fractura nasi” - a by Jóanes Nielsen and is a sequel to SUNNUDAGSLAND the young girl Argantael. The novel is narrative non-fiction road-trip story his novel “Brahmadellarnir” (2010). TEMA VIÐ SLANKUM The poetry collection “Sunnudags­land” written by Rakel Helmsdal and won by Høgni Mohr. The author goes on a “Bommhjarta” is a continuation of the The novel “Tema við slankum” by by Faroese author her the West Nordic Literature Price in Hilbert og Bob eru vinir. TRÆIÐ Sólrún Sissal Kampmann Men Hilbert er ein snedigur bike trip to all the towns in the Faroe story about Tóvó who has been released Michelsen is her first novel for adults, and is the Faroese nominee for the Nordic 2016 and was nominated for The Nordic snigil, og Bob veit ikki ordiliga, Islands in his search for answers to grief, from prison for crimes he committed earned her the M.A. Jacobsen’s Award in Council Literature Prize 2017 and is set Council Children´s and Young People´s um hann skal trúgva øllum,

TRÆIÐ deception and nonsense traditions. in the previous novel. The story moves sum Hilbert sigur ... literature 2008. Rights have been sold to in the village of Vestmanna, where Sissal Literature Prize in 2017. Published in The novel is full of humour, criticism back and fort in time but spins around Denmark, Germany and Norway. Kampmann was born (in 1974) and Denmark and Norway. and agony; Høgni cries, laughs and hits Tóvó and his hometown Sumba in the raised. Rights have been sold to Denmark. hard, but does not get lost in artistic Faroe Islands. Rights have been sold to HINUMEGIN ER MARS ÁH ÓH - MÁNIN imprudence. Rights have been sold to Denmark and Germany. “Hinumegin er mars” by Sólrún TAÐ ORÐIÐ This is Jenny Kjærbo’s second book for Denmark. Michelsen is a gripping novel about a “Tað orðið” is Heðin M. Klein’s seventh toddlers about the pufflings, Big chick BRAHMADELLARNIR woman caring for her elderly mother poetry collection and gives an account of and Little chick. They are playing by Á FERÐ Í SIBIRIU The novel “Brahmadellarnir” (2011) by with dementia. The novel was nominated the author’s lifelong pursuit of the right the seashore when they spot the moon BFL Sigert O. Patursson, born in 1869, was Jóanes Nielsen is the first novel in this for the Nordic Council Literature Prize in word for the right moment to suit the for the first time. Rights are sold to 978-99972-0-167-6 BFL 2017 a Faroese explorer. In 1889, at the age epic family story series. The novel is filled 2015. Rights have been sold to Norway, connotation or sentiment that the author Denmark. of 20, Sigert traveled to western Siberia with colorful characters and various Denmark and the UK. wants to convey. This long lasting search and the Kara Sea. The journey lasted family intrigues, and incorporates is somehow also symbolised in the ÁH ÓH six years, and when he returned to the a number of genres and styles as it ÓENDALIGA VERA fact that the collection consists of one “Áh Óh” is a picture book for toddlers Faroe Islands he wrote the book "Sibirien shifts from individual stories to larger Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs’ new novel continuous poem – in fact the longest by Jenny Kjærbo and was published TRÆIÐ i vore Dage" (Siberia Today). The book world issues. Rights have been sold to “Óendaliga vera” is about old Vera who is poem ever written in Faroese. Rights in 2015 by BFL. The book is about a was published in 12 fascicles from Denmark, Germany and the US. “Træið” - The winner of the Nordic suffering from aphasia and young Leon have been sold to Denmark. young puffin who is asked to look after 1900 to 1901, and then combined into who is struggling with his past. Vera is an egg. But the puffin gets annoyed Council Children and Young People’s a single book with the same title in PRÆDIKARIN full of words but cannot speak due to her SKUGGAMYNDIR because it doesn’t understand why this Literature Prize 2018 – by Bárður 1901. In addition to the journey itself, “Prædikarin” is the second novel in the illness but Leon finds great comfort in The short story collection particular egg needs such special care the book focuses on the culture that he crime series by Jógvan Isaksen about her. Rights have been sold to Denmark. “Skuggamyndir” by Ingun Christensen and attention. Jenny Kjærbo has written Oskarsson has been in great demand discovered there. Among other things, William Hammer who is the director ever since it was announced as the which was released by BFL in 2015 and illustrated the book and is currently he described a local peasant wedding. of the police unit “Skansadeildin” in HER SKAL DANSES will be released, under the title working on the sequel about the puffins. winner. Rights have been sold to Russia. Torshavn. The crime novel was published “Her skal danses” by “Skuggbilder” in Sweden shortly by Fri Published in Denmark and Chile, rights The story about Bob the rabbit and in 2013 and Isaksen has since published (1900-1991) is a collection of six short Press Förlag, and ready to pre-order sold to the US. GUDAHØVD a third novel in the series. Rights have Hilbert is a classic, perpetually relevant stories published in 1980 by Danish from the beginning of September. It is “Gudahøvd” is Jóanes Nielsen’s 10th now been sold to Denmark. Gyldendal. Rights have been sold to Joakim Lilljegren who has translated the BÁRÐUR OSKARSSON tale of trying to become worldly wise. poetry collection and was released by Germany and the Berlin-based Guggolz book from Faroese to Swedish, and the Author and illustrator Bárður The book was published in 2017 by Mentunargrunnur Studentafelagsins in BLÍÐ ER SUMMARNÁTT Á FØROYALANDI Verlag has just released the short publication has been supported by the Oskarsson's most successful children's BFL and rights have been sold to 2017. “Gudahøvd” is the Faroese nominee “Blíð er summarnátt á Føroyalandi” from story collection with the title “Hier Wird Nordic Translation & Production Grant book is "Flata kaninin" ( The Flat for the Nordic Council Literature Prize 1990 is a significant book in the Faroe Slovenia, the UK, Italy, Denmark, Getanzt”. It has been translated from Rabbit) which has been published in 2018. There are 38 poems in the book, Islands as it is the first crime novel Danish by Inga Meincke, and Verena AFTANÁÐRENN Denmark, Germany, Norway, Canada, Sweden, Norway, Bulgaria, , and the cover and illustrations are in a series of ten crime novels about Stössinger has written an epilogue. The short stories in the collection Czech Republic, Sweden, Iceland, and Macedonia. made by Faroese artist Rannvá Holm Hannis Martinsson by author Jógvan “Aftanáðrenn” by Katrin Ottarsdóttir are Bulgaria, Slovenia, Hungary, and Great Mortensen. Rights sold to Denmark and Isaksen. The story features the freelance WILLIAM HEINESEN - LISTAMAÐURIN oddly fascinating, and are different from Britain. Rights have been sold to Korea, Norway. journalist, Hannis Martinsson, who’s The beautiful and unique coffee table anything else written in Faroese. The Macedonia, Spain and South Americas been abroad for many years, and is now book “William Heinesen - listamaðurin” whole atmosphere is scizofrenic, and (Spanish speaking). 30 31 BOOK PUBLICATIONS:

Himnahyljar (2018) 43 bagatellir (2017) POETRY Ferðamaður í egnum landi Aftanáðrenn (2016) CHILDREN (2017) Katrin Ottarsdóttir Sólsmakkur (2018) Skriftstøð (2016) Sprotin Lundi og Lundisa (2018) Rannvá Holm Mortensen Glopramjólk (2015) Vár Berghamar Jacobsen Sprotin Rustur sum viður Nýtt flog (2016) BFL og vindur (2014) Rakel Helmsdal, editor Korallbruni (2018) Einglasuð (2013) Sprotin Eg eri ein prinsessa (2018) Anna Malan Jógvansdóttir Tóroddur Poulsen Elin á Rógvi Eksil Mentunargrunnur So hon starir inn í BFL Studentafelagsins veggin (2015) Gudahøvd (2017) Arnbjørn Ó Dalsgarð Haruungin Nelus (2018) Jóanes Nielsen Desembermorgun (2015) BFL Jógvan Edvard í Geilini Mentanargrunnur Kim Simonsen BFL PUBLICATIONS 2014-2019 Studentafelagsins Mentunargrunnur Glasbúrið (2015) Studentafelagsins Sámal Soll Træið (2017) Tann lítli drongurin og Sprotin Wilbert (2016) beinagrindin (2017) Opus 6 – ein symfoni fyri Bárður Oskarsson Beinir Bergsson æðrar (2014) Skuggamynd (2015) BFL FICTION Bommhjarta (2016) Seyðabókin (2016) Horvna rósan (2018) Sprotin Petur Pólson Ingun Christensen Jóanes Nielsen Robert Joensen Hevndin úr havsins dýpi Sprotin BFL Stjørnan (2016) Mentunargrunnur Sprotin (2017) Djúpini (2017) Heine Hestoy Ikki fyrr enn tá (2019) Studentafelagsins Deyðin fer í bindiklubb (2016) Vónbjørt Vang Úrvalssavn (2019) Svanirnir syngja (2015) BFL Oddfríður Marni Rasmussen Seyður og seyðahald (2016) Steintór Rasmussen Eksil Úrtíð (2016) Oddvør Johansen Sprotin Sær - ein fuglabók av Olav Schneider Sprotin Gandakendu Føroyar (2016) Mentanargrunnur Kópakonan (2015) gloymsku (2017) BFL Opna (2016) Av heilum hjarta (2015) Stundentafelagsins Simmsalabimm (2014) Bókin um tað góða (2015) Anathema (2018) Rót Tripp (2012) Oktoberbløð í fallandi Edward Fuglø Eg síggi teg betur í myrkri Vágamentan (2016) Heljarportur (2017) Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs sól (2014) BFL – Forspæl til ein gleðileik Nina Reinert Drotningaringurin (2016) Sprotin Oddfríður Marni Rasmussen YOUNG ADULT (2014) Sprotin Hitt blinda liðið (2015) Sprotin Karlo og Luddi (2014) Carl Jóhan Jensen Vølundarhús (2014) Ein farri av fráferð (2016) Niclas Heri Jákupsson Sprotin Bót og biti (2015) Jógvan Isaksen Sólrún Michelsen Messa fyri ein film (2015) Miljuløtur (2018) BFL Jóan Pauli Joensen Mentunargrunnur Sprotin Eru koparrør í Hon, sum róði eftir Fróðskapur Studentafelagsins himmiríki (2012) ælaboganum (2014) ÁH ÓH - Mánin (2018) NON-FICTION: Darkening / Myrking (2017) Katrin Óttarsdóttir Rakel Helmsdal ÁH ÓH (2015) Føroya ljóð / Sounds of the Sunnudagsland (2016) Mentunargrunnur BFL Jenny Kjærbo Faroes (2014) Seyður í søgn og veðri (2017) ART BOOKS Hyasinttíð (2014) Studentafelagsins BFL Marianna Clausen Helgi í Brekkunum Sissal Kampmann Óendaliga vera (2016) Stiðin Sprotin Boðskapurin í trænum (2017) Mentunargrunnur Julia og omman (2018)Tá Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs Nils Ohrt Studentafelagsins SHORT STORIES skrubban fekk heilaskjálvta BFL Føroyska Rokksøgan (2016) CRIME Sprotin (2017) Hans Egholm, Kartin L. Tað orðið (2015) Julia og bjarginga­vesturin Hinumegin er mars (2013) Morgunfrúa (2017) Hansen et. al William Heinesen, Heðin M. Klein (2016) Sólrún Michelsen Sólrún Michelsen BFL Zapatista (2014) listamaðurin (2016) Mentunargrunnur Drongurin í grønum Mentunargrunnur Sprotin Durita Holm Bárður Jákupsson Studentafelagsins gummistivlum (2015) Studentafelagsins Freyja Sprotin Elsubeth M. Fossádal BFL 32 33 BOOK PUBLICATIONS:

CLASSICS

JØRGEN-FRANTZ JACOBSEN HEÐIN BRÚ MARTIN JOENSEN (1900-1938) (1901-1987) (1902-1966) Jacobsen has a distinct place in Heðin Brú was the penname of Martin Joensen was a Faroese as he is the only Hans Jacob Jacobsen, a Faroese teacher and author who wrote Faroese writer to achieve international novelist and translator. two novels and a number of short best-seller status. This status derives stories, articles and some poetry. His from his sole novel, Barbara which was literary works deal with the everyday published posthumously. The novel life, and social and gender related was translated into five other languages circumstances of his contemporaries. shortly after the first edition in the . It was also adapted Fiskimenn (1946) as a motion picture directed by Danish Translated into Norwegian Nils Malmros in 1997. These facts, together with Jacobsen’s essays, a study of the Faroe Islands published in the guise of a travel guide, and a volume of his letters, are sufficient to suggest that Heðin Brú is considered to be the had he lived longer, he would have been most important Faroese writer one of the outstanding literary figures in of his generation and is known WILLIAM HEINESEN Scandinavia in the twentieth century. for his fresh and ironic style. His most famous novel, Feðgar Barbara (1939) á ferð (The Old Man and His (1900-1991) –translated into more than 20 Sons), was chosen as the Book William Heinesen was born in Torshavn, the son of a Danish mother and Faroese father, languages. of the twentieth century by the and was equally at home in both languages. Although William spent most of his life in the Faroese, and it was his first novel Faroe Islands his mother tongue was Danish, and to him it was destiny rather than choice to Det dyrebare liv (1963) to be translated from Faroese write in Danish. William Heinesen is generally considered to be one of the greatest, if not the – collection of into English. It tells the tale of greatest, Scandinavian novelist of the twentieth century. His books have been translated into letters to William the transformation of a rural 19 languages. Heinesen. society into a modern nation of fisheries and the conflicts between Blæsende gry (1934) generations that result. Den sorte gryde (1949) De fortabte spillemænd (1950) Feðgar á ferð (1940) Moder syvstjerne (1952) Translated into Icelandic, Danish, Det gode håb (1964) – awarded the Nordic Council LIterature Prize together with Olof Norwegian, German, Greenlandic, Lagercrantz English, Polish, Swedish.

34 35 AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS M.A. JACOBSEN’S AWARDS NORDIC COUNCIL LITERATURE PRIZES

The WINNER of the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize 2018 was the picture book “Træið” by Bárður Oskarsson.

The story is about Bob the rabbit who starts CULTURE CHILDREN wondering about what FICTION might be on the other Bárður Oskarsson BÁRÐUR OSKARSSON The M.A. Jacobsen Award for Fiction The M.A. Jacobsen Award for The Tórshavn Children’s Culture side of the tree. He has was granted author and visual artist Culture was granted visual Award was granted teacher, radio & only ventured there once Rannvá Holm Mortensen, for her artist and author Edward television presenter, and author Vár and was chased away by poetry collection “Sólsmakkur” which Fuglø for the outstanding Berghamar Jacobsen for her long a dog before his curiosity was published in 2018 by Sprotin. wood reliefs illustrating the term dedication and contribution to was satisfied. The tree and TRÆIÐ Rannvá is a self-taught painter story about Jesus of Nazareth. children’s culture. Vár has written Hilbert og Bobthe eru thought vinir. of the exciting and visual artist who regularly Edward Fuglø is one of the and directed the children’s television Men Hilbert erand ein the snedigur unknown on the exibits locally and internationally. major contemporary Faroese programme Likkulikkuleia, written snigil, og Bob veitother ikki side ordiliga, still lure him, but

TRÆIÐ “Sólsmakkur” is her debut as a poet. visual artists who puts society the radio theatre “Luddi og Lundisa”, um hann skalmaybe trúgva øllum,Bob can make do sum Hilbert sigur ... In the motivation the Committée under the microscope. He cuts the Christmas story and musical with what his well-travelled friend Hilbert says? Using says: “There is an immidiate scent of it into slices and studies its “Jól í grannalagnum”, and the audio subtle humour Oskarsson tells the classic, perpetually poetry in the title. The text and the different layers and sectors. story “Søguskrínið”. Her most recent relevant tale of trying to become worldly wise. Is it worth illustrations complete each other The ten circular reliefs in wood production was the performance of the effort to see things with your own eyes? Is there in beautiful unison and describe are both simple and layered, the story about “Luddi og Lundisa” anything important on the other side of the tree? Who the story of an adult woman; happy traditional and modern, and which was also published as an knows? childhood memories, dramatic adult intertwine stories from the illustrated book. “Vár has with her The story is illustrated in Bárður Oskarsson’s experiences, travels around the world, Bible with local narratives. versatile qualities and creative spirit characteristic minimalist, sensitive strokes. Expansive,

BFL thoughts about climate change and Jesus of Nazareth, featured in given the Faroese children a more almost monochrome surfaces provide space for BFL 2017 influx of refugees. The metaphors are the book “As told in Wood” (see colourful and fun world to live in” meditative nuances and focus on the two friends’ 978-99972-0-167-6 skilfully composed and reused in the pages xxx) is one of Fuglø’s was what the Committee said in expressive body language during their pensive encounter right capacity - a true masterpiece”. major works and unique in his their motivation. amid the grey humdrum of the everyday, where they sky oeuvre. is the limit and the tree now seems more distant.

36 37 ARTIST

LISBETH NEBELONG, JOHAN HARSTAD, CRAIG Denmark: Norway: ROBERTSON, RESIDENCIES Færø Blues Triology Buzz Aldrin, hvor UK: (2016) ble det av deg i alt The Last Refuge mylderet? (2006) (2014)

SIRI RANVA HJELM SILVIA SUSAN KAYSEN, JACOBSEN, HENRIKSDÓTTIR, USA: Denmark: Norway: Far Afield (2002) WILLIAMSHÚS Ø (2016) Sig at du lyver Lindhardt & Ringhof (2012) Williamshús is the private residence and primary workplace of Faroe Islands most famous writer William Heinesen LISTAMANNAHÚSINI Á DALATRØÐ (1900-1991). The house is now open SKÚLIN Í TJØRNUVIK STIG TROELSEN, SILVIA CHRIS OULD, to the public and remains unchanged Faroese artist and sculptor Janus Denmark: HENRIKSDÓTTIR, UK: since Heinesen’s passing in 1991. The Kamban (1913-2009) wrote in his In the small village of Tjørnuvík the old Bjørgs Saga (2016) Norway: The Blood museum offers an interesting insight will that his home should be used as school which is not in use anymore has Hovedland Djevlen kan ikke Strand (2016) into the artworks on display and the an artist residency for Faroese visual been made into an artist residency which lese (2014) Titan unique interior of the house decorated artists or foreign visual artists if the LISA, the Faroese Artist Association, by Heinesen and his son, painter visit is an exchange with a Faroese administers. The school is on two floors; Zacharias Heinesen. Part of Williamshús artist going abroad. He also mentioned on first floor there are two work rooms also functions as an artist residency the possibility of a foreign author to and a bathroom, and on the second VERENA ARTHUR CHRIS OULD, where artists can stay and work for a stay and work in the residency for a floor there is a small kitchen and a bed STÖSSINGER, KRASILNIKOFF, UK: week or up to three months. The small limited period between three and twelve room. The residency is available for 1-3 Germany: Denmark: The Killing Bay apartment is suitable for one person or a months. Artists can send an application months and suited for 1-2 people, and Die Gespensters­ Hvalens øje (2017) couple with one child. Artists can apply to: applications should be sent to: lisa@lisa. sammlerin (2017) (2011) Titan by sending an enquiry to williamshouse@ fo. Edition Bücherlese Gyldendal pocket gmail.com. Listafelag Føroya, P.O.Box 1141, FO-110 Tórshavn, Further information: Further information: or send an email to [email protected] www.lisa.fo www.williamshus.wordpress.com 38 39 PURPOSE NORDIC The Nordic Council of Ministers’ culture and arts programme has taken over the administration of the scheme to support the translation of INTERNATIONAL literature and drama from one Nordic language TRANSLATION to another. Grants are available for prose, poetry and drama, non-fiction of general interest (including essays and biographies), comic books TRANSLATION AND GRANT and children’s books. Grants are also awarded to special issues of magazines with a Nordic focus. PRODUCTION GRANT The grant supports Nordic publishing houses in Special consideration is given to applications for grants for the translation of poetry and drama; translating literature from one Nordic country and works that have been awarded the Nordic to another. In order to receive funding, you need Council Prize for Literature will be accorded to apply for the grant in the country in which top priority for up to three years after winning The Faroese Cultural Fund, Mentanargrunnur Landsins, the work was originally published. For the Faroe the prize. Priority is also given to the minority grants subsidy for translation and production of works language areas in the Nordic countries. Islands, this means applying through FarLit. formerly published in Faroese or by a Faroese publisher. The application must come from a foreign publisher or translator. Application form and further information is available at Application www.farlit.fo. Any further dead-lines: questions can be directed to the Literary Coordinator at 1 April and [email protected] 1 October To process the application the National Cultural of the Faroese Cultural Fund. The application should Fond needs a copy of the contract with the be sent either by snail mail to the following address: Faroese right’s holder and a copy of the contract with the translator (unless the work has already Mentanargrunnur Landsins, been translated into the language in question). Lützenstrø 4, CONTACTS IN THE OTHER Greenland: Iceland: Sami: A translator needs to enclose a presentation of P.O.Box 3198 NORDIC COUNTRIES Greenlandic Society of Center Sami Artists’ Council the qualifications and previously translated and FO-110 Torshavn AND REGIONS: Authors (Miðstöð Íslenskra (Sámi Dáiddárráðði) published titles. A budget has to be enclosed too. The Faroe Islands (Kalaallit Atuakkiortut) Bókmennta) Sweden: or by email: [email protected] Denmark: : Norway: Swedish Arts Council THE APPLICATION FORM IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.FARLIT.FO Danish Arts Foundation FILI NORLA (Kulturrådet) If you need further information you are welcome to (Statens Kunstfond) (Suomalaisen The application deadline varies and your application, contact FarLit at [email protected] Kirjallisuuden Seura) once received, will be processed at the next meeting

40 42 FAROESE

BOOKMynd: Faroephoto FESTIVAL 22-24 NOVEMBER the Nordic Literature Price 2019. has aspecialfocus onauthors nominated for Festival willtake place22-24 November and events and workshops. This year theBook children withreadings, debates, meet theauthor offers aprogrammer for both adultsand event intheNordic House. The BookFestival Bókadagar, theFaroese BookFestival isakey MY NOTES 43 Go to www.farlit.fo for more information on us, the authors and the works. You can also sign up to get news from FarLit or follow us on Facebook.

www.farlit.fo Contact us at: [email protected] Follow us on: www.facebook.com/farlit)