Guardian World Literature Tour

[Stewart]

Since the latest world literature tour has been posted up on the Guardian Books Blog - to Hungary - I thought I'd make a thread to show where it has been over the last couple years for reference:

Finland (http://books.guardian.co.uk/worldliteraturetour/page/0,,1705306,00.html)
Poland (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2006/01/30/pole_stars.html)
Czech Republic (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2006/02/21/czech_in.html)
Canada (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2006/03/21/whither_canada.html)
Turkey (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2006/04/05/turkish_delight.html)
Japan (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2006/05/03/noh_and_zen_1.html)
Italy (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2006/06/23/an_italian_job.html)
Brazil (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2006/07/24/brazil_nuts.html)
Iceland (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2006/09/04/ice_and_fire.html)
New Zealand (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/03/join_the_world_literature_tour.html)
Nigeria (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/04/join_the_world_literature_tour_1.html)
Ireland (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/08/join_the_world_literature_to_i.html)
India & Pakistan (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/08/join_the_world_literature_tour_2.html)
Spain (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/09/join_the_world_literature_tour_3.html)
China (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/10/join_the_world_literature_tour_4.html)
Romania (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/02/join_the_world_literature_tour_5.html)
Germany (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/03/join_the_world_literature_tour_6.html)
Hungary (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/05/join_the_world_literature_tour_7.html)
Australia (http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/09/join_the_world_literature_to_a.html)
Portugal (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2008/oct/28/world-literature-tour-portugal-australia)
Egypt (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2008/nov/27/portugal-egypt)

I'm surprised it hasn't been to France yet as I would expect a lengthy list of recommendations and apropos mentions.

[LizzySiddal]

Thanks for flagging this, Stewart.

If only I'd known about the German leg in time ....

However, on the off chance that some of the Guardian posters find their way here, I'd like to direct attention to the Angel Classics catalogue. Some of the translations, bemoaned as out-of-print on the Guardian thread, are available there. Such as:

Heinrich Heine - Deutschland (http://www.angelclassics.com/heine/deutschland/)
Theodor Storm - The Dykemaster (http://www.angelclassics.com/storm/the-dykemaster-der-schimmelreiter/), Hans and Heinz Kirch, Immensee and A Journey to Hallig (http://www.angelclassics.com/storm/hans-and-heinz-kirch-with-immensee-and-journey-to-a-hallig/), Paul the Puppeteer, The Village on the Moor and Renate (http://www.angelclassics.com/storm/paul-the-puppeteer-with-the-village-on-the-moor-and-renate/)

Lots of other German language goodies available too.

[Stewart]

If only I'd known about the German leg in time ....

Sounds like we need - and now have - a German Literature (http://www.worldliteratureforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=866) thread.

[abecedarian]

Don't forget to tie a string around your ankle when you head over to this site...too much to look at there!

[Stewart]

After a few months' hiatus, the Guardian world tour resumes again, this time in Australia.

[Eric]

It is indeed a very random project. As if someone at the Guardian tosses the dice or throws a dart at a map. But anyway, it's Aussie.

I was just looking at the first, Finland, as I'm interested in that country. The Useful Links there are genuinely useful. The Aspasia bookshop link for translations into English is good. And all the other links, especially Books From Finland, also lead you to something interesting.

One curious comment there is:



M?rta Tikkanen
A Winter's Day
"For love and feminism" - Marja
"Get your hands on a copy of A Winter's Day (out of print, but used copies are available dirt cheap on Amazon). Full of wit, honesty, and self-depreciating humour, it's a rarity in Finnish literature. It's originally written in Swedish, which automatically makes for a better translation." - Antti from Helsinki


I can't for the life of me think why that should be the case. Swedish is nearer to English, linguistically, but a good translation is a good translation. Anyway, there is a good spread of authors to look out for, from both language groups.

[Stewart]

Time to go on holiday with the Guardian again: this time to Portugal (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2008/oct/28/world-literature-tour-portugal-australia).

[Stewart]

The Guardian World Tour comes to Egypt (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2008/nov/27/portugal-egypt).

[kpjayan]

I'm already at "The Yacoubian Building" , you see..

[Bjorn]

This month they're in China (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/may/09/world-literature-tour-china). Might be interesting.

[hdw]

This month they're in China (http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2011/may/09/world-literature-tour-china). Might be interesting.

Any writer the Guardian approves of is liable to be banged up in jail before they can interview him/her.

Harry