Hallgrímur Helgason is one of the guests of this years Authors’ Reading Month, which takes place in Moravia and Slovakia and will be focused on Icelandic literature. But before he participates in this event, you will have a chance to meet him on the boat (A)void Floating Gallery in Prague on the 4th of July. During the event, the author will introduce his novel Woman at 1000 degrees, which has gotten a nomination for the Nordic Council Literature Price and has recently been translated to Czech by Marta Bartošková and published by Argo Publishing house.
“I live here alone in a garage, together with a laptop computer and an old hand grenade. It’s pretty cozy.” Herra Björnsson is at the beginning of the end of her life. Oh, she has two weeks left, maybe three—she has booked her cremation appointment, at a crispy 1,000 degrees, so it won’t be long. But until then she has her cigarettes, a World War II-era weapon, some Facebook friends, and her memories to sustain her. And what a life this remarkable eighty-year-old narrator has led. From Herra’s childhood in the remote islands of Iceland, where she was born the granddaughter of Iceland’s first president, to her teen years spent living by her wits alone in war-torn Europe while her father fought on the side of the Nazis, to love affairs on several continents, Herra Björnsson moved Zelig-like through the major events and locales of the twentieth century.
The discussion will be lead by Czech writer Miroslav Pech and enriched by scenic reading of the excerpts from the book by the actress Jitka Nerudová.
In Czech and Icelandic, interpreted into Czech.
Free admission
The event is organised by the Scandinavian House in Prague, Argo Publishing house and Authors’ Reading Month with the support from the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and the city of Prague.
Pictures: www.mac365.cz; argo.cz
