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2024 Longlist

Stolen

Translated from the original Swedish by Rachel Willson-Broyles
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ABOUT
THE BOOK

Nine-year-old Elsa lives just north of the Arctic Circle. She and her family are Sámi, Scandinavia’s indigenous people, and make their living herding reindeer. One morning, Elsa witnesses a man brutally killing her reindeer calf. She recognises the man but refuses to tell anyone – least of all the Swedish police force – about what she saw. A decade later, Elsa finds herself the target of the man she first encountered all those years ago, and something inside of her finally breaks. The guilt, fear and anger she’s been carrying since childhood come crashing over her like an avalanche, and will lead Elsa to a final catastrophic confrontation.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Ann-Helén
Laestadius

Ann-Helén Laestadius is an author and journalist from Kiruna, Sweden. She is Sami and of Tornedalian descent. Stolen is Laestadius’ first adult novel. An international number one bestseller, it has been sold into twenty-two territories. Laestadius has also been awarded the Adlibris Award for best novel, the Your Book Our Choice Prize, given by the Swedish Association for Bookstore Employees, and the Västerbottens-Kuriren Prize. She lives with her family in Solna outside of Stockholm.

Ann-Helén Laestadius is an author and journalist from Kiruna, Sweden. She is Sami and of Tornedalian descent. Stolen is Laestadius’ first adult novel. An international number one bestseller, it has been sold into twenty-two territories. Laestadius has also been awarded the Adlibris Award for best novel, the Your Book Our Choice Prize, given by the Swedish Association for Bookstore Employees, and the Västerbottens-Kuriren Prize. She lives with her family in Solna outside of Stockholm.

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Rachel
Willson-Broyles

Rachel Willson-Broyles became interested in Sweden and the Swedish language at an early age. She majored in Scandinavian Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, and received her BA there in 2002. She started translating while a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received a Ph.D. in Scandinavian Studies in 2013. Rachel lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Rachel Willson-Broyles became interested in Sweden and the Swedish language at an early age. She majored in Scandinavian Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, and received her BA there in 2002. She started translating while a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she received a Ph.D. in Scandinavian Studies in 2013. Rachel lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

Drawing inspiration from true events, the author skillfully uncovers the deep-rooted tensions between ethnic communities in this lesser-known part of Europe. The novel is not only a literary masterpiece but also an enlightening tale that delves into the rich and distinctive historical legacy of culture, shedding light on the challenges confronted by its people. A compelling narrative that seamlessly weaves fiction with reality, this book deserves recognition for its profound exploration of human experience and cultural understanding.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Date published
31/01/2023
Country
Sweden
Original Language
Swedish
Publisher
Bloomsbury Publishing
Translator
Rachel Willson-Broyles
Translation
Translated from the original Swedish by Rachel Willson-Broyles
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