Song for an Approaching Storm
2016 Longlist

Song for an Approaching Storm

Translated from the Swedish by Peter Graves

ABOUT
THE BOOK

In the hot, rainy summer of 1955, Cambodia is in upheaval. The first democratic elections, just weeks away, will determine not only the future of a country, but the happiness of three people.

Sar is a quiet, serious schoolteacher, officially campaigning for the opposition, who is secretly working for an armed Communist takeover. Many years later, he will become known to the world as Pol Pot.

Somaly – young, fragile, beautiful – refuses to be tied down. She is the woman Sar loves, the woman for whom he is willing to sacrifice his most dearly held beliefs.

And Sary is the ruthless deputy prime minister – determined to keep the opposition from power by any means, and to make Somaly his lover.

Amidst the poverty and the cocktail parties, the silk dresses, the divided loyalties and betrayals, a love triangle unfolds which will decide the fate of a nation.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Peter
Fröberg Idling

Peter Fröberg Idling was born in Stockholm 1972. He began working as a freelance journalist during university and, after graduating from law school, spent two years in Cambodia as legal advisor to a human rights organization. He published Pol Pot’s Smile in 2006. Song for an Approaching Storm, his first novel, was published to great acclaim. It has been translated into eight languages.

Peter is now based in Stockholm, with his partner and two children, dividing his time between literary criticism and work on his second novel.

Peter Fröberg Idling was born in Stockholm 1972. He began working as a freelance journalist during university and, after graduating from law school, spent two years in Cambodia as legal advisor to a human rights organization. He published Pol Pot’s Smile in 2006. Song for an Approaching Storm, his first novel, was published to great acclaim. It has been translated into eight languages.

Peter is now based in Stockholm, with his partner and two children, dividing his time between literary criticism and work on his second novel.

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

Peter Fröberg Idling has written a story on the life of Sar, a man who will be known as Pol Pot. A story about love, power and the choices we make.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
09/04/2015
Publisher
Pushkin Press
Translator
Peter Graves
Translation
Translated from the Swedish by Peter Graves

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