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Echoing the idea of sonnets from Eastern Europe, another
highlight here is a "wreath" of 15 sonnets by Hungarian-
Roma poet
László Sárközi.Mentored by the now deceased
enfant terrible
of Hungarian literature, György Faludy,
Sárközi explores the strained relation between his Roma
and Hungarian identity, in this candid, hard, beautiful
sequence. As with the sonnets by Tomasz Różycki, the
translator here de-emphasised the traditional rhyme
scheme from the originals, to best capture the rhythm and
flavour of these startling sonnets in English.
Speaking of translators, this issue features some of the
finest around, including works translated by Bill Johnston,
Mira Rosenthal – and Michael Hofmann, in a chapter here
from acclaimed Swiss-German novelist Peter Stamm's
brand new work in English,
All Days are Night
.
Finally, to get you in that seasonal mood, we're offering an
entire noir short story,
Kiss of Santa
, by Finland's top crime
writer, Leena Lehtolainen.
These are long, generous selections from some of Europe's
finest novelists and poets today. Some readers tell us our
new digest format is the first time they've really been able
to read quality literature online. So we hope you may
approach in this spirit! Slow down, make a tea, settle in and
experience these works as they so richly deserve, in our
reading room online. Go "full screen" (with that little icon
below the book if on a PC) for best reading. . . and enjoy!