New Swedish Books, Autumn 2018 1
65 Autumn 2018 Ulf Stark (text) b. 1944–2017 Kitt
y Crowther (ill) b. 1970 Master of Lies Publisher Lilla Piratförlaget www.lillapiratforlaget.se “ The nurses think he's is difficult. Even his own family seem embarrassed.” Rights Lilla Piratförlaget Linda Widman linda@lillapiratforlaget.se Ulf Stark Selected Works Åskan 2017 Kan du vissla, Johanna? 1992 Min vän Percys magiska gymnastikskor 1991 Ulf Stark Selected Literary Prizes Kulla Gulla-priset 2016 Augustpriset 1996 Astrid Lindgren-priset 1993 Master of Lies Grandpa is in an old people’s home. His heart is on the blink. He spends most of his time swearing and being grumpy. The nurses think he’s difficult. Even his own family seem embarrassed. Everyone except his grandson Tiny Gottfrid. Tiny Gottfrid and Grandpa escape to the archipelago. They go to the cottage on the island, where Grandpa lived with Grandma. Their life is stored in that place. In the furniture, the vegetable garden, the cliffs. In a jar of loganberry jam. With a delicate sense of presence, as we’ve come to expect from both these authors, a number of powerful portraits are drawn here. But Ulf Stark also evokes the way memories are carried by objects and the importance of specific places to our shared history. It’s about holding on, and allowing oneself to earnestly enter into relationships with all that’s around us. Not just people. Master of Lies is a book about what’s most important in life. The relationships we live with. And death. Photo: Andréas Lennartsson Photo: Lydie Nesvabda