Emigrants from Sweden
The summer has turned over and autumn is closing in on us again here in the Northern hemisphere. Daylight is still 14 hours and 30 minutes, when the winter is here we´ll have the shortest days with 6 hours and 7 minutes. The migrating birds have started to group together already.
But, no need to ponder on that now. On the other topic now, Emigrants from Sweden to America, as it was in the 19th century. The book series about a Swedish group of people who were leaving a poor life in the rural Småland, written by the Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg, has been reprinted. What´s interesting are the book covers, embroidered by a Swedish needleworker, Karin Holmberg.
I think they are beautiful, and maybe very Swedish. LS, what do you think?
But, no need to ponder on that now. On the other topic now, Emigrants from Sweden to America, as it was in the 19th century. The book series about a Swedish group of people who were leaving a poor life in the rural Småland, written by the Swedish author Vilhelm Moberg, has been reprinted. What´s interesting are the book covers, embroidered by a Swedish needleworker, Karin Holmberg.
I think they are beautiful, and maybe very Swedish. LS, what do you think?
4 comments:
Is each book handembroidered or is the cover a photo of an embroidery? I really like this idea, it is personal and immediate. And it creates structure, something you want to hold in your hand and think about. Lovely!
It is a photo of an embroidery but the idea is nice!
I really like it... Are all four books done in the same way with embroidered covers?
I remember reading these books, a very long, long time ago, and long before I knew I would myself settle over here on the other side of the ocean. I thought the two first where the best... and that the movies where not at all as good as the books.
I should probably reread them... in Swedish of course. Books written in Swedish should be read in Swedish, and the same for English-English. Translations are more complicated, there is depends more on translators. But reading a translated Swedish book in English can be a painful experience.. it is something about it that isn't right. If you can, always read a book in its original language.
That said, think about all the books we read as kids in Sweden that were translated and we were transfixed by them - Narnia books by CS Lewis, Robert Heinlein and Isaac Asimov, and even comic books. They sure inspired and affected us deeply even if translated :)
So, back to the emigrants - I am one, and also an immigrant. In a sense you are halfway there, gone from the old country, and still not fully immersed in the new. But I feel somewhat at home in the US now, after over 18 years... it takes a long time. And I still miss Sweden a lot. Always will.
Sweden miss you too, LS!
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