New Swedish Books, spring 2017 1
7 Spring 2017 They Are Going to Drown in Their Mo
thers’ Tears Johannes Anyuru is a poet, novelist and playwright. Ever since his 2003 debut Only the Gods Are New, his work has combined elements of classical mythology alongside contemporary themes. The gods and the ancient figures are still alive – they have universal stories to tell. In his new novel, Anyuru foregrounds themes such as terrorism, groups like Daesh, the religious radicalisation of young people, and the unease across Europe. In the mythological background, we can make out the Nobel Prize-winning poet Harry Martinson’s major work, Aniara. Anyuru’s book is a stark tale of a universal and timeless fear. A fascinating intrigue playing with the idea of simultaneously being intensely ‘here’ in the present, and looking into the future. He writes about our time, while making it a part of all time. His language and his settings are contemporary and eternal. We may live here, but everything we do connects to something else. Johannes Anyuru (b. 1979) They Are Going to Drown in Their Mothers’ Tears Publisher Norstedts förlag info@norstedts.se www.norstedts.se Rights Norstedts agency linda.altrovberg@norstedts.se Selected Works Skulle jag dö under andra himlar (Norstedts 2010) Novel En civilisation utan båtar (Glänta 2011) Documentary prose poem En storm kom från paradiset (Norstedts 2012) Novel Literary Prizes (selection) Svenska Dagbladets litteraturpris 2012 Aftonbladets litteraturpris 2012 Ivar Lo-Johanssons personliga pris 2013 De Nios Vinterpris 2014 Photo: Khim Efraimsson