FREE Swiss Edition Five, December 2018 THEswisS RIVETER eurolitnetwork.com @eurolitnet @prohelvetia #TheRiveter #RivetingReviews #LiterallySwiss Swiss INTRODUCTION BY WEST CAMEL, EDITOR Swiss literature is rich — in variety, in We’re honoured to have extracts quality and, of course, in the diversity from work published in English by of the languages it is written in. eminent Swiss writers from all It is this richness that we want to backgrounds: Monique Schwitter, represent and celebrate in this edition Michelle Steinbeck, Nicolas Verdan, of The Riveter, giving space to literature Pedro Lenz and Arno Camenisch. written in all of Switzerland’s official More treats are in store in the form of languages. In pursuit of this aim, we extracts from writing yet to find an have enlisted the views of experts in English publisher, among them work Swiss writing. Translator Jamie by Michael Fehr, Elisa Shua Dusapin, Bulloch ponders literature written in Aude Seigne and Jens Nielsen. the country’s biggest language, Swiss We have poetry too, from the German, while crime writer Nicolas great Nora Gomringer, Leta Semadeni, Verdan discusses the current state of Pierre Voélin and FabioPusterla. Swiss-French writing. We also have Yetmorewritersprovideinteresting Professor Alan Robinson examining views on aspects of Swiss culture: the relationships between Swiss- Melinda Nadj Abonji writes about the French and Swiss-German literature immigrant experience in Switzer- and that written in France and land; Xiaolu Guo shares her thoughts Germany. In terms of the smaller on the Swiss book everyone knows – languages, poet Vanni Biaconi offers a Heidi – and the quintessential British- view on the state of Swiss-Italian Swiss writer Alain de Botton discusses writing, and Professor in Romansh, Zurich. Rico Franc Valär, offers an overview And, as always in The Riveter, we of writing in the various forms of offer you some RivetingReviews – that language. views from talented critics on Swiss 1 books in English that you can find in writers, the cover designer, Amélie bookstores now. Keller, and to both the Swiss and This feast of Swiss literature is English Arts Councils, whose support headed up by a world exclusive: an extract has made this magazine possible. from the new novel – not published in English until autumn 2019 – by Peter Stamm. Our thanks to the author, his West Camel is a writer, editor and reviewer. He is translator and publisher for allowing the Editor of The Riveter magazine. His debut us to give you this very special piece. novel, Attend is published in December 2018. Thanks indeed to all our contributors – the authors, translators and publishers, the reviewers and 2 Swiss THE RIVETER EDITORIAL BY ROSIE GOLDSMITH, RIVETER-IN-CHIEF, DIRECTOR EUROPEAN LITERATURE NETWORK & LITERALLY SWISS PROJECT LEADER HowwouldyoudescribeSwissliterature? clocks, fondue and chocolate? Is Swiss Since I started working with the literature simply embodied by those Swiss Arts Council, Pro Helvetia in who write it, such as Jacques Chessex, 2012, first on their annual book trade Giorgio Orelli, Friedrich Dürrenmatt, magazine 12 Swiss Books and then on Robert Walser, Johanna Spyri or Max our newLiterally Swiss project, I’ve Frisch? Max Frisch himself said that a been asked this question many times – Swiss writer was a ‘citizen of the and I still don’t know the answer. The world’, cosmopolitan, multicultural question is tough even for Swiss and multilingual. These are indeed writers and book trade professionals. precious attributes, but equally the Ask ten people and you get ten Swiss can be seen as insular and different answers. OurSwiss Riveter private, dependent on the vitality of magazine will surely help: there are incomers. It’s clear that geography is thoughtful essays on this very topic destiny when you live in a landlocked, and an impressive range of writing as hybrid nation, an island in the centre well as excerpts in all genres and from of Europe, and one of the most all languages. breathtakingly beautiful countries in So, how would you describe Swiss Europe. Surely natural beauty inspires literature? When you ask, you are great writing? Friedrich Nietzsche, the immediately drawn into a discussion German philosopher, lived in Switzer- about Switzerland itself and issues of land for many years, was a keen Swiss identity, mentality, geography mountain climber and wrote several and language. Is it writing about lakes, of his great works here. Content is mountains and skiing? About cuckoo king in Swiss writing. Its writers are 3 informed. They know their villages, quirks and literary genres. Meeting mountains, lakes and alps. They know Arno Camenisch and Pedro Lenz this about banking and corruption; about year has been an education in the joys their architecture, design and environ- of Swiss dialect. You can read their ment;their unique political system, work in this magazine. Live perform- neutrality and referendums. A Swiss ances by Swiss poets and storytellers writer may not always live in Switzer- Nora Gomringer and Michael Fehr land (cf. Alain de Botton) but they have also blown me away. I can’t wait know their country and will often be for you to meet them in the UK. drawn back home. Because that is another, sadder, Swiss writers often maintain that aspect of Swiss literature: it is not well they have more in common with their known outside Switzerland. German, French or Italian neighbours, Now I’m going to stick my neck andmayfeeltheyhavesucceededonly out: of all the European literatures if they are published outside I am reading these days, Swiss Switzerland. One of my favourite literature is the most original, varied Swiss writers, Peter Stamm, who and exciting. There’s a lively perform- writesinGerman,wassnappedupbya ance and spoken-word culture – leading publisher in Germany. This especially among dialect writers. November, Peter won the Swiss Book Villages, cities and mountains are alive Prize, which is, however, only awarded with the sound of literature. In June to Swiss writers in German. So, does I attended a Swiss book festival in the that make him the best Swiss writer or mountain resort of Leukerbad where simply the best Swiss-German writer? events took place in a spa! Decide for yourselves, as we are Swiss literature is an exciting mix honoured to publish an exclusive Eng- of youthful innovation and celebrated lish excerpt from his prizewinning classics. Being at ease with different novel, The Gentle Indifference of the languages makes it more inventive. World, translated by Michael Hoffman. As you’ll read in our magazine, I’ve read it in German and it’s another its diversity has been boosted Stamm-stunner: a crime novel, love enormously by immigration. Today story and psychodrama about the Swiss writers are not writing only in mystery of life. the four official languages but also in I’mluckyenoughtospeakthreeof the languages of immigration. Nicolas the Swiss languages, German, French Verdan is originally Greek; Melinda and Italian, and, like the majority of Nadj Abonji from Yugoslavia. There Swiss, I enjoy hopping about linguist- are not enough translators and ically, enjoying the different cities, definitely not enough being translated regions and cultures of Switzerland. into English. Each region has its own literature We’re here to help. That’s what prizes and festivals, its own linguistic Literally Swiss does. 4 WhenIwasachild,IadoredHeidi, Swiss authors: Alain de Botton, the fictional girl who lived in the Swiss Monique Schwitter, Nicolas Verdan, Alps. I became aware of Switzerland Pedro Lenz and Peter Stamm. Along for the first time, although a night with my Literally Swiss colleagues, spent on a Swiss mountain in our Amber Massie-Blomfield, Anna Blasiak, family car, surrounded by cows with Nikki Mander and West Camel, we’re loud bells, is also unforgettable, as was here to help writers, publishers, my first taste of Swiss chocolate. This agents, translators, cultural institutes, year I made a very rash promise, that arts organisations, media, festival therewouldalwaysbechocolateatmy directors and event programmers Literally Swiss events. Heidi and interested in developing Swiss chocolate are, of course, things any projects for 2018 and beyond.The country could be proud of, but if Swiss Riveter is a labour of great love you’re appalled by my liberal use of for Switzerland. When you’ve read it, clichés so far, fear not, as my mission do tell me how you would describe with Literally Swiss is to smash the ste- Swiss literature! reotypes and introduce you to the Best of Swissness. A year ago, I was asked by Pro Helvetia in Zurich to help Rosie Goldsmith (aka Rosie the Riveter) is Director them promote Swiss literature and of the European Literature Network and Riveter- translation in the UK and increase its in-Chief. She was a BBC journalist for twenty years. visibility.Literally Swiss was born at The Tabernacle arts centre in London with a host of outstanding 5 CONTENTS Introduction Swiss-French Extracts byWestCamel................................................................1 Three Poems by Pierre Voélin ....................................60 Editorial From Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin ........66 by Rosie Goldsmith .......................................................3 From Une Toile Large Comme le Monde by Aude Seigne............................................................69 From Monsieur and Madame Rivaz From The Gentle Indifference of the World by Catherine Lovey .....................................................71