New Swedish Books. Spring 2016 1
SPRING 2016 The Last Pig The Last Pig is a book i
n two parts. The first is made up of aphorisms, an anachronistic form that fits this (culturally) conservative author like a glove. Lengthwise they range from one-line tweets to composed reflections. Even though it’s just as easy to disagree with him as it is to agree, Engdahl does succeed in creating several wellaimed satires and delightfully disillusioned reflections on everything from love and HORACE ENGDAHL THE LAST PIG ALBERT BONNIER FÖRLAG RIGHTS: BONNIER RIGHTS friendship, men and women, envy, money, art and philosophy. It’s life itself in all its grandiose insignificance. The second part consists of a monologue where a lonely man takes to the stage. Here in the remains of the gender war stands the last (male) pig, in all his tragic glory. Engdahl never sways from describing the ridiculousness of being human, it’s amusing, telling and sometimes really very moving. “ Here in the remains of the gender war stands the last (male) pig, in all his tragic glory.” 19 Photo: Helén Karlsson