The ‘Blue Sofa’ Welcomes Book Fair Guest Country Norway
Authors Maja Lunde, Johan Harstad and Lars Elling visited Bertelsmann Unter den Linden in Berlin.
The Leipzig Book Fair, where Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe traditionally has a strong presence, starts on March 27. This year’s guest country is Norway, and last week, the “Blue Sofa”, Bertelsmann’s literary format, welcomed three authors from Norway to a guest country event at Bertelsmann Unter den Linden in Berlin. For several years now, our colleagues in Berlin have organized a “Blue Sofa” event honoring the respective guest country of the Frankfurt Book Fair and, last year, they started doing so for the Leipzig Book Fair’s guest country as well. Then, it was authors from the Netherlands and Flanders, now it’s Norway’s turn.
The evening’s 150 guests were first welcomed to Bertelsmann Unter den Linden by Helen Müller, Head of Cultural Affairs at Bertelsmann; Astrid Böhmisch, Director of the Leipzig Book Fair; and Laila Stenseng, Norway’s ambassador in Berlin. Afterwards, Margit Walsø, Director of NORLA (Norwegian Literature Abroad), and Project Manager Ellen Hogsnes presented the concept of the Norwegian guest country event and gave insights into the diverse literary program that will be shown in Leipzig under the heading “A Dream in Springtime.” Authors Maja Lunde (“Für Immer,” Btb – Original title: Lukkertid, English title: Shutter Speed), Johan Harstad (“Unter dem Pflaster liegt der Strand,” Claasen – Original title: Under brosteinen, stranden! English title: Under The Paving Stones – The Beach!) and Lars Elling (“Die Prinzen vom Birkensee,” Penguin – Original title: Fyrstene av Finntjern, English title: The Princes of Pauper’s Pond) then presented and discussed their latest books in conversation with moderators Marie-Christine Knop and Thomas Böhm. Afterwards, there was a small reception with Norwegian specialties.
The Blue Sofa will also be represented at the Leipzig Book Fair itself, which starts next Thursday. On March 27 and 28, it will present the “Krimi Club” event at the Leipzig District Court featuring authors Trude Teige, Max Annas, Sia Piontek, and Tom Hillenbrand on March 27; and Volker Klüpfel, Elisa Hoven, Tore Renberg, and Sarah Nisi on March 28. On March 29, the Blue Sofa will be set up at Leipzig’s Alte Handelsbörse to present authors Takis Würger, Katharina Köller, Mareice Kaiser and Bernhard Pörksen.
