Haga has translated Carson’s “Eros the Bittersweet” and “The Economy of the Unlost”, together with Rebecka Kärde. He finds it difficult to summarize Carson’s 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 literature.
He himself was drawn to her way of weaving in ancient Greek literature.
I came for the Greek but stayed for the action, he says, recommending that new readers start with “Red Autobiography”, the most accessible of her books.
“Unique”
Author Mara Lee, who has translated “Red Autobiography”, also recommends that readers start with it. Her own favorite, though, 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 jealousy story about a marriage, but in a way that makes your whole life vibrate, says Mara Lee.
Björn Wiman, cultural director at Dagens Nyheter, recommends the same book:
An autobiography that links to a monster in the myth of Heracles that, 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 given its timing alongside the film adaptation of “The Odyssey”.
Anne Carson draws all of her literary nourishment from ancient stories. In that sense, the Academy’s choice of award 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 embrace.
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.
