One of Us is Sleeping
2018 Longlist

One of Us is Sleeping

Translated from the Danish by Martin Aitken
artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

The English-language debut from one of Denmark’s most exciting, celebrated young writers, One of Us Is Sleeping is a haunting novel about loss in all its forms.

As she returns home to visit her mother who is dying of cancer, the narrator recounts a brief, intense love affair, as well as the grief and disillusionment that follow its end. The book’s striking imagery and magnificent prose underpin its principal theme: the jarring contrast between the recollection of stability-your parents, your childhood home, your love-and the continual endings that we experience throughout our lives.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Josefine
Klougart

Josefine Klougart is considered one of Scandinavia’s most important writers. She made her literary debut in 2010 with the novel Rise and Fall, which was nominated for the prestigious Nordic Council Literature Prize. The following year, Klougart was awarded the Danish Royal Prize for Culture. Her third novel, One of Us is Sleeping, was also nominated for a Nordic Council Literature Prize, making her the youngest author ever nominated twice for this prominent award. Of Darkness, her most recent novel appeared in Denmark in 2014 to universal critical acclaim and became a massive bestseller in Denmark and Norway. The novel was nominated for two major literary prizes in Denmark and marked the arrival of a wholly new literary talent in world literature. Klougart studied art history and literature at Aarhus University and graduated in 2010 from the Danish Writer’s School in Copenhagen. She has worked as an art and theatre critic and has published a number of essays for Danish radio and newspapers. Her work has also appeared in several American journals, including Salamander and World Literature Today. She currently resides in Denmark and is the editor of Den Blå Port, one of Denmark’s most prestigious literary journals.

Josefine Klougart is considered one of Scandinavia’s most important writers. She made her literary debut in 2010 with the novel Rise and Fall, which was nominated for the prestigious Nordic Council Literature Prize. The following year, Klougart was awarded the Danish Royal Prize for Culture. Her third novel, One of Us is Sleeping, was also nominated for a Nordic Council Literature Prize, making her the youngest author ever nominated twice for this prominent award. Of Darkness, her most recent novel appeared in Denmark in 2014 to universal critical acclaim and became a massive bestseller in Denmark and Norway. The novel was nominated for two major literary prizes in Denmark and marked the arrival of a wholly new literary talent in world literature. Klougart studied art history and literature at Aarhus University and graduated in 2010 from the Danish Writer’s School in Copenhagen. She has worked as an art and theatre critic and has published a number of essays for Danish radio and newspapers. Her work has also appeared in several American journals, including Salamander and World Literature Today. She currently resides in Denmark and is the editor of Den Blå Port, one of Denmark’s most prestigious literary journals.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Martin
Aitken

Martin Aitken’s translations of Scandinavian literature are numerous.  His work has appeared on the shortlists of the DUBLIN Literary Award (2017) and the US Book Awards (2018), as well as the 2021 International Booker Prize.  For his translation of Hanne Ørstavik’s Love he received the 2019 PEN America Translation Prize.

 

Martin Aitken’s translations of Scandinavian literature are numerous.  His work has appeared on the shortlists of the DUBLIN Literary Award (2017) and the US Book Awards (2018), as well as the 2021 International Booker Prize.  For his translation of Hanne Ørstavik’s Love he received the 2019 PEN America Translation Prize.

 

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

Josefine Klougart is one of Denmark’s most unique and celebrated young writers. One of Us is Sleeping is a vivid exploration of the effects of love and loss on human life and a story about coping with grief by letting it consume you. What makes the novel a must-read is its powerful lyrical imagery and wonderfully pensive protagonist. It is a novel that stays with you.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
12/07/2016
Country
Denmark
Original Language
Danish
Publisher
Open Letter Books
Translator
Martin Aitken
Translation
Translated from the Danish by Martin Aitken

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