Haga has translated Carson's "Eros the Bittersweet" and "The Economy of the Unlost" with Rebecka Kärde. He finds it difficult to summarize her writing because it is so unique.
She casts a kind of spell over the reader. Her writing is full of ancient Greek literature and wild references to philosophy and modern mythology.
He himself was drawn to her way of weaving ancient Greek literature into her work.
I came for the Greek but stayed for the action, he says, and recommends that new readers start with "Red Autobiography", the most accessible of her books.
Recommends the autobiography
Author Mara Lee, who translated "Red Autobiography," also recommends that readers start with it. But her own favorite is "The Beauty of the Husband: A Fictional Essay in 29 Tangos," in which Carson draws on John Keats.
There she writes a fairly ordinary story of jealousy in a marriage, but in a way that makes your whole life vibrate, says Mara Lee.
Björn Wiman, cultural director at Dagens Nyheter, also recommends the autobiography:
It links to a monster in the myth of Heracles, which in Anne Carson's hands becomes a story about a young gay man's exclusion in our time. It's an advanced maneuver that succeeds in parts.
Public speaking
Björn Wiman believes that the award will be "celebrated with popped popcorn in the cultural world" - not least because its timing coincides with the film adaptation of "The Odyssey".
Anne Carson draws all her literary nourishment from ancient stories. In that sense, the Academy's choice this year is almost shocking to the public.
Ida Ölmedal at Svenska Dagbladet would have preferred to be surprised, but believes the choice will be well received. She thinks Carson is difficult but not impossible to accept.
You need to be a fairly well-read person to fully appreciate her.
Mara Lee highlights Carson's humor. She calls the author "unique" and believes that no one can compare to Carson, despite her having "many followers."
It's bold, curious, seductive and educated. All at once.
Cool and witty
As a person, Carson is “a great authority but nice, quite cool and witty,” according to Mara Lee.
Niklas Haga met her once ten years ago and found her somewhat difficult to talk to.
She's not the petulant type. But when we got into the English translation of Homer, it loosened up.
