A Tiler's Afternoon
1997 Shortlist

A Tiler’s Afternoon

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ABOUT
THE BOOK

In A Tiler’s Afternoon, Lars Gustafsson has written an enchanting tale, full of insight, wisdom and gentle irony, sensitively conveyed in the childlike simplicity of its telling, as the tiler’s life-story is gradually filled in from his memories. Here is a book that in short compass embraces a whole rich microcosm.

Original title in Swedish En kakelsatteres aftermiddag, published by Norstedts (1991)

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Lars
Gustafsson

Lars Gustafsson (1936-2016) was one of Scandinavia’s best-known authors. Born in Västerås, Sweden, he published his first novel Vägvila: ett mysteriespel på prosa (Rest on the Way: A Mystery Play in Prose), at the age of 21. He was one of the most prolific Swedish writers since August Strindberg, he producing a voluminous flow of poetry, novels, short stories, critical essays and articles from the 1950 onwards, gaining international recognition with literary awards such as the Prix International Charles Veillon des Essais in 1983, the Heinrich Steffens Preis in 1986, Una Vita per la Litteratura in 1989, and a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship for poetry in 1994, as well as a Nobel nomination. His best-known novel – championed by John Updike – was The Death of a Beekeeper (1968). His last published novel was Dr Wassers Recept (Dr Wasser’s Prescription, 2015). (from Bloodaxe Books)

Lars Gustafsson (1936-2016) was one of Scandinavia’s best-known authors. Born in Västerås, Sweden, he published his first novel Vägvila: ett mysteriespel på prosa (Rest on the Way: A Mystery Play in Prose), at the age of 21. He was one of the most prolific Swedish writers since August Strindberg, he producing a voluminous flow of poetry, novels, short stories, critical essays and articles from the 1950 onwards, gaining international recognition with literary awards such as the Prix International Charles Veillon des Essais in 1983, the Heinrich Steffens Preis in 1986, Una Vita per la Litteratura in 1989, and a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship for poetry in 1994, as well as a Nobel nomination. His best-known novel – championed by John Updike – was The Death of a Beekeeper (1968). His last published novel was Dr Wassers Recept (Dr Wasser’s Prescription, 2015). (from Bloodaxe Books)

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Tom
Geddes

Tom Geddes was the founding secretary-treasurer of SELTA and for some years also its chair. At the end of 2019 he stood down from 36 years on the editorial board of Swedish Book Review. He won the inaugural Bernard Shaw Prize for Swedish Translation in 1991 and was awarded a Swedish Academy translation prize in 2002. He also received the Royal Order of the Polar Star in 1992, with Joan Tate and Laurie Thompson, and was elevated to Commander of the same order in 2006, an honour he regards as much as an accolade to SELTA for its 25th anniversary as to himself.

Tom Geddes was the founding secretary-treasurer of SELTA and for some years also its chair. At the end of 2019 he stood down from 36 years on the editorial board of Swedish Book Review. He won the inaugural Bernard Shaw Prize for Swedish Translation in 1991 and was awarded a Swedish Academy translation prize in 2002. He also received the Royal Order of the Polar Star in 1992, with Joan Tate and Laurie Thompson, and was elevated to Commander of the same order in 2006, an honour he regards as much as an accolade to SELTA for its 25th anniversary as to himself.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
24/06/1993
Country
Sweden
Original Language
Swedish
Publisher
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Translator
Tom Geddes

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