Out of the Darkness: Classic Short Fiction from Sweden - Hardcover

by Vendela Vida (Editor), David Katznelson (Editor), Ulf Olsson (Editor)

A treasure chest of stories by Swedish authors from the 1880s to the 1950s, many appearing for the first time in English

In the late nineteenth century, Swedish romanticism gave way to vibrant new literary styles that flourished through the 1950s. Out of the Darkness is the first anthology to bring the short fiction of this golden age of Swedish literature to English readers, celebrating the country's rich literary tradition and several of its most renowned authors. The stories in this volume (many in entirely new translations, and most never before published in English) reflect the arc of the short story in Sweden, from realism to symbolism to modernist experimentation, and stand as lyrical exemplars of the creativity and depth of Swedish literature.

Some stories explore themes of crime and refuge, others ask what makes life meaningful, and some challenge sexual and social constructs of their time. All are fueled by shadows--of evil, madness, or fate, eerie fantasy or grim reality. Including internationally famous authors like August Strindberg, Stig Dagerman, and Nobel laureate Selma Lagerlöf, Out of the Darkness also features writing by influential women such as Victoria Benedictsson and Agnes von Krusenstjerna, who are less familiar to English readers. A showcase of stylistic virtuosity and incisive social commentary, Out of the Darkness at last brings this remarkable period of Swedish prose into the light.

Contributors: Victoria Benedictsson, Hjalmar Bergman, Karin Boye, Stig Dagerman, Thorsten Jonsson, Agnes von Krusenstjerna, Selma Lagerlöf, August Strindberg, Hjalmar Söderberg.

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Author Biography

Vendela Vida is a founding editor of The Believer magazine and the award-winning author of six books, including Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name, The Diver's Clothes Lie Empty, and We Run the Tides. Two of her novels have been New York Times notable books of the year, and she received the Kate Chopin Award, given to writers whose female protagonists choose an unconventional path.

David Katznelson is a Grammy-nominated musicologist and record producer and publisher of the newsletter The Signal From David Katznelson.

Ulf Olsson is professor emeritus of literary studies at Stockholm University and literary critic for the daily newspaper Expressen.