Over dinner recently my sister in law Barbro and I discussed the pros and cons of introducing books to ”ringen” in the language in which one has read them. Most of us read in Swedish, Finnish and English, perhaps with a preponderance for English. On the other hand much of the litterature we enjoy in that language has been translated thereby already losing some uniqueness. My point of view was, and incidentally remains, that Ring1 is a Swedish, or rather ”Finlandssvensk”, medium and should remain as such.
I will, however, try to do one introduction i English, one that already has been done proficiently enough in Swedish by Ullabella. The experiment will not, I hope, therefore cause confusion as to the Administrators intent. Here goes:
18.03.19 WARLIGHT, Michael Ondaatje, 2018. The story, set in London of 1945, opens with two under teenage children being left by their parents in their home for a few weeks before the start of their respective boarding schools. Their mother supposedly joining their father at his new station in Singapore.
Their mothers trunk, packed with loving care in the presence of the children, is discovered in the basement years later. In the meantime the children have tried and rejected their boarding schools and been taken care of by an obscure lodger called The Moth in the attic of their house. Years roll by and nothing is heard from the parents, but the boy feels being watched from time to time.
One explosive evening their world blows up, the car they travel in is attacked, The Moth dies, secret agents surround them and they suddenly meet their mother.
From here on the perspective shifts and i consider it prudent not to reveal more of the story. Anyhow the book is a masterpiece of laconic but colourfull prose. A beautiful and surprising weave. In every respect a masterpiece.