World Literature Fay Weldon Ben Okri Haruki Murakami Karl Ove Knausgård Kim Leine Mikhail Shishkin Tomas Espedal 2000 - 2014 on the Isle of Møn England Nigeria Japan Norway Denmark/Norway Russia Norge The first year of activity took 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 place in 2000 in collaboration with the Theatre Folk High School Rødkilde with Marianne Hiort-Lorenzen of the Møn Library as organizer. Ben Okri in conversation with Günter Grass in 2009. Since 2007, events have taken PHOTO: SIGURD BO BOJESEN place at Fanefjord Skovpavillon within the organisational framework of PHOTO: SIGURD BO BOJESEN PHOTO: SIGURD BO BOJESEN PHOTO: SIGURD BO BOJESEN PHOTO: HELGE SKODVIN PHOTO: YVONNE BÖHLER the World Literature Society PHOTO: BERRIT ROALD PHOTO: ANNE-SOPHIE FISCHER KALCKAR of the Isle of Møn. “I've been to many festivals in my The year 2009 is the tenth time some of Haruki Murakami was born in Kyoto in Born in Oslo in 1968. Knausgård was Kim Leine was born in Norway in 1961 Mikhail Shishkin was born in Moscow With his personal and poetic books Event profile: writing life: all have a different identity. the world s greatest authors make their 1949. During a sports event in 1974 he the first debutant ever to win the and moved to Denmark at the age of in 1961 and is the author of a number of Tomas Espedal has undertaken a revi- Møn s is one of the best, and most appearance at the literary event World was inspired to write his first novel. Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature 17. He worked as a professional nurse major novels. In 2000 he won the sion of the technique of novel writing. - The guest is a gifted story-teller memorable. The island is beautiful and Literature on the Isle of Møn. The same year he opened the Peter Cat for his novel “Out of the World”. His in Greenland for 15 years. In 2004 he Russian Booker Prize for ”The Taking With a starting point in his own life he and a worldrenowned author. numinous: the ancients surely lived On the 22nd and 23rd of August one jazz bar in Tokyo. second novel “A Time for Everything” returned to Denmark where he had his of Izmail”. In 2005 he was awarded the writes novels which lean on genres like - Readings are concentrated and here. The festival attracts a dedicated can meet one of the African continents The novel was published in 1979. In was nominated for the Nordic Council s author s debut with the passionate auto- National Bestseller Prize for ”Maidenhair” autobiographies, poetry, short stories, intense lasting several hours. and knowledgeable audience from all most famous authors. 1982 he was awarded his first literary Literature prize in 2004. The first biographical novel “Kalak” (which and in 2006 the prestigious ”Bolshaya essays, travelogues and diaries. over the world, whom neither rain nor Ben Okri was born in Nigeria, lived prize for “A Wild Sheep Chase”. volume of his great work “My Struggle” actually means “that fucking Kniga” (Big Book) prize for it as well. “Tramp – Or the Art of Living a Wild - The author stays at Møn storm deters. Then when the sun shines in London during his early childhood His breakthrough which included was published in 2009 to be followed Greenlander”). ”Maidenhair” has been published in and Poetic Life” from 2006 is an auto- for up to a week accompanied and the festival-goers eventually and and travelled back to Nigeria with his Europe came in 1987 with the by five further volumes whereby he The like-wise well-written novel more than 40 languages. biographical novel about going – going by the family. reluctantly depart, you find yourself in family in 1968. Much of what he wrote publication of “Norwegian Wood”. fulfilled his ambition of writing a full “Tunu” is also based on life in Next to come out was ”The Light and away from home, going to the dogs, World a working landscape by-passed by the in his early life explores the political It was filmed in 2011. six volume work within a two year Greenland. It was acclaimed by the the Dark” in 2011, which has been sold going mad, going to the end of the Günter Grass was the first guest. modern world. The island feels remote, violence he witnessed as a child during In his three volume masterpiece period. The work is an immensely press. to more than 20 countries. ”Maidenhair” world; he does all that. Literature is a convincing novel, which switches yet the glittering reality of Copenhagen the civil war in Nigeria - known as the “IQ84” Murakami draws on all the detailed description of the author s life In 2012 Leine published his great With his supreme style of writing This renowned author with effortless ease for the author but not on the Isle of is only a couple of hours drive away. Biafran war. themes in his electrifying authorship. intermingled with exciting essays and novel “The Prophets of Eternal Fjord”, and his feeling for language Espedal is contributed markedly to setting a for the reader between various stories, For the guest, there is privacy and Later he went back to London with It has become a world success. personal considerations. The story ends a well-composed story of life and able to hold the attention of the reader Møn times and styles: a personally experienced clear event profile from the very company, the opportunity for work and financial support from the Nigerian “This is a novel about dark and hid- in volume six when contemporary time religious fanaticism in Greenland in the whether he is writing about going, beginning. Grass has since then story of love and suffering, a famous leisure, and in the host a real government to study literature and to den memories, about relations between falls in with the story, which is August 1700s. This is the author's master- female singer's fictitious diary and much related authors in literary history or been the nestor of World awareness of the needs both of culture write. art and mathematics, about sex, death 2011 in Denmark. piece, at least up to now, a milestone in more. Though philosophical, mythological watching rose petals decay. Literature on the Isle of Møn. at large and the artist in particular. He published his first novel in 1980 and softball, and not the least about This extremely well-written work Danish literature and so emphatic that and poetical ”Maidenhair” is a richly Just like the novel “Tramp” the novel It feels a privilege to be invited - and if and has later become internationally relations between the Japanese and consisting of almost 4,000 pages has “you want to shield yourself from fire facetted narrative with great inner “Against Art” shows Espedal as a He participates frequently and 2000 - 2014 only temporarily, that you actually known, often described as one of authority.” Kim Skotte of the Danish been discussed vehemently and and ice, scratch your wig for teeming gifted writer, who with himself at stake takes part in meeting the guests. intensity and many changes of pace. deserve to be there. Could a writer ask Africa s major authors. newspaper Politiken, 2011. translated to several languages. A large lice and shudder at the stench of rancid Shishkin's own opinion of the novel: writes inspiring and compelling books We are certainly grateful for for more? His novels contain a rich world of Furthermore, Murakami translates public has been attracted to the blubber and reeking flour” “This is a book about the simplest things, about being a human, a wanderer and Günter Grass' interest. Some festivals you grudge, as spirituality and mysterious layers which from American, he has lectured at frankness and crucial sincerity of as Klaus Rothstein of the newspaper without them life is unthinkable. an author. valuable time lost to a writing life, but greatly enhance the readers Princeton University and he is a Knausgård s writing. “Weekendavisen” expresses himself. It Maidenhair is a species of grass, a turf, Tomas Espedal has published both www.verdenslitteratur.dk not the one at Møn's.“ understanding. notable debater in the media in Japan. is the author's extensive knowledge of which is a weed in the superficial city of novels and anthologies of short stories. Join us on facebook Greenland and his deep-felt emotions Rome whilst in Russia it is an indoor He promoted the Bergen International Top picture: Fay Weldon and for life and history of that great land plant which cannot survive without a Festival of Poetry. His novels “Tramp - Marianne Hiort-Lorenzen that made it possible for him to delve human’s warmth. I wrote this novel in Or the Art of Living a Wild and Poetic into its colonial history of the 1780s. Switzerland, France and Rome. It is Life” (2006) and “Against Art” (2009) He tells a powerful and sensuous story typically Russian but at the same time it and “Bergeners”, to be published in The key aspects of the event are experience, based on incarnate and awful reality. exceeds the borders of the Russian world Danish in 2014, have all been as there is not sufficient room within nominated for the Nordic Council's concentration and a high degree of quality. them. Russia is just a fraction of almighty Literary Prize. God’s world.” GRAPHIC DESIGN: DESIGNMARK.DK Günter Grass Erik Fosnes Hansen Einar Már Gudmundsson Henning Mankell André Brink Ib Michael Amos Oz Kerstin Ekman Info: Germany Norway Iceland Sweden South Africa Denmark Israel Sweden Time: 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 Visit www.verdenslitteratur.dk In my mind I keep on remembering the wonderful Roma-musicians. I have Venue: Fanefjord Skovpavillon met them at literary gatherings in distant countries, even in Portugal. Address: Fanefjord Skovvej 6, I attended the later gatherings as DK-4792 Askeby, Denmark. often as my time-schedule permitted (By the Baltic Sea coast on the Isle me and had the pleasure of meeting of Møn, south-east Denmark) some colleagues such as Erik Fosnes Hansen, Henning Mankell and Amos Saturday programme: Oz. In the days after the gatherings all 12 noon - 1 pm: Lunch can be three of them visited me in our country cottage in Ulvshale on Møn. PHOTO: CATO LEINE PHOTO: SIGURD BO BOJESEN purchased prior to the event. PHOTO: SIGURD BO BOJESEN PHOTO: ØISTEIN NORUM MONSEN PHOTO: SIGURD BO BOJESEN PHOTO: SIGURD BO BOJESEN PHOTO: SIGURD BO BOJESEN Orders to David s Café, The gatherings on the Isle of Møn are Günter Grass is the nestor of The Møn unforgettable memories. It is my hope The young Norwegian author has alrea- Choosing writers for Møn s World Henning Mankell has pursued two Dear Marianne: “What I brought with me from that day, In 2005, Amos Oz wrote the book “I already knew from the book fairs, phone 0045 3313 8057. Association of World Literature, writes: for you dear Marianne Hiort-Lorenzen dy made a significant impact but is yet Literature association is not easy. We significant themes in his writing career: Møn remains a wonderfully textured was the experience of many people, “Tales of Love and Darkness”, a grand that the Danish readers were interested, Doors open at 1.30 pm. and for us writers that the tradition of to achieve a large body of work to his look for the grand, the daring and the his crime novels and his African image in my mind. The beautiful sharing something we all had in novel based on rich and unusual auto- but I never imagined listeners to be as Seats are numbered. Dear Marianne Hiort-Lorenzen literary gatherings on Møn will name. First came “The Falcon Tower”, poetic. The choice has fallen upon the inspired writings. gardens in which the gathering took common which was the love of all the biographical experiences. As soon as it patient as during that long afternoon at 2 - 5.15 pm: The author discusses I still very clearly remember the great continue to take place. an adventure novel about man s secret Icelandic writer, Einar Már The whole world awaits with great place (in perfect weather!), the fantastic books that exist in the world. was published, it was recognized as one TheTheatre Folk High School at honour that was bestowed on me when I intrigues. Following this came the Gudmundsson. Throughout his writing anticipation each thrilling crime novel. enthusiasm and active interest of the The beautiful room, the unique of the world s major pieces of literature, Rødkilde. As a writer, it was a great his works with a selected interviewer In the long run, books enable us to was given the opportunity to be the first break through our limitations and open important novel “Psalm to a Journey s career he lets us, as readers or As a tourist, in Ystad, you can actually crowd and the interaction with them, atmosphere, the light from the lovely a warm and wise novel about life in the experience for me to meet the readers and reads passages from his books. to open the literary gathering ”World the world to our readers. End” about the Titanic, but told from listeners, experience the poetic, the follow in the footsteps of his character the stimulation and friendliness of the surroundings and attentive faces, like new Israel. during this long and uninterrupted 5.15 - 5.45 pm: The author signs Literature on the Isle of Møn”. the perspective of the musicians who wild, the harsh and the graceful. As inspector Wallander! The well construc- people, the sense of celebration that pearls on a string. The novel made a great impression time, readers who didn t let their copies of his books. In spite of the inclement weather it Yours sincerely played right until they disappeared one of the enthusiastic critics wrote: ted crime novels about Kurt Wallander made the occasion memorable. And the As a writer, you feel comfortable on critics all over the world. The Italian interest in the books flag. The program- 5.30 - c.7 pm: Buffet was still feasible to conduct rewarding Günther Grass under the waves. Just as powerful, the Einar Már Gudmundsson can really do are inspired by Mankell s interpretation few days my companion and I spent in talking to the audience in the moment newspaper, Republica wrote: “If you me with music and speech was so talks with members of the audience in latest book, “Tales of Protection”, has it. With his pen he captures the space of violence, power, importance, good idyllic circumstances in our small when you get understood as a reader, only have two days left to live, one of well chosen and well assembled. Sunday programme: the park of the old Folk High School. been translated into numerous langua- between the world and everything else. and evil. These novels soon made castle at the edge of the sea - the drives who also write books. First of all it is the things you must do, if you want to I remember this day with great joy, but Same as Saturday except that the But, as soon as I ask myself what I ges, including Danish. With “Tales of The gravity extends and shifts, which Henning Mankell a familiar name across the island to visit villages and the joy you share, the joy of a joint die happy, is to read this book”. also the days that followed at the sea interviewer is changed. actually talked about or gave readings Protection” Fosnes has become one of can send streams of poetry and throughout the world. numerous picturesque historical identification. A special surge of energy It is a grand novel about Oz own fami- and at the forest at Møns Klint. From from, my memory fails me. However, I Europe s newest and most important lightness through even the heaviest and The string of African-inspired novels churches, the sumptuous food, the long was created in the room, which made ly, the history of the Jewish people and Møn, we brought home the light and the probably read some stories out of my writers. most painful experiences. is the other theme to Mankell s writing lingering dark-green evenings, the the time stand still and the words to about the emerging state of Israel. vast sky. They live on in our memory.” Tickets and prices: book “My Century”, which at that time output. The very fascinating and lively quality of the library, the sounds flow. In that sense we are all standing www.billetlugen.dk had just been published. enthralling novels emerge from of birds, the feeling of a long history on each other s shoulders, attempting to Tickets are on sale from 1st of March Mankell s personal experience living gently infusing every day with fuller get a glimpse of the land of milk and incl. or excl. evening buffet. in Africa. The novel, “The Wind s meaning… all of this ensures that as a honey.” NB: Packed lunches not permitted. Son”, is a fantastic example - a tale of literary occasion and as an encounter Beverages to be purchased on the a Kalahari boy s bizarre and difficult with people inspired by books and spot. destiny……in Sweden! reading and a deep appreciation of life, that visit will remain one of my most precious memories. I've been to Organizer: Denmark many times over the years, The World Literature Society but this special island meant that for of the Isle of Møn. me the country will never be the same Mail subscription and application again. for membership: Warmest greetings, www.verdenslitteratur.dk. André Curator: The Isle of Møn World Literature Day Marianne Hiort-Lorenzen, KulturPlatform.