Swiss Literature Today
an audio series on Trafika Europe Radio
Highlighting authors and works from across the languages of Switzerland. This series is made possible by kind support from the Consulate General of Switzerland in New York and the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia
To listen: https://trafikaeurope.org/podcast/swiss-literature-today
Here are the episodes in this series to-date:
((1)) PETER STAMM: THE SWEET INDIFFERENCE OF THE WORLD
Swiss-German author Peter Stamm discusses his latest novel to come out in English, The Sweet Indifference of the World, published by Other Press. Includes an excerpt in English read by translator Michael Hofmann. Musical selections are “Zauerli” by violinist Paul Giger and “Waltz for Verena” by Dino Saluzzi. (35-minute audio)
((2)) ELISA DUSAPIN: WINTER IN SOKCHO
Host Philippe Ungar interviews Swiss-French author Elisa Shua Dusapin and translator Aneesa Abbas Higgins about the novel, Winter in Sokcho. (32-minute audio)
((3)) DOROTHEE ELMIGER: SHIFT SLEEPERS
Swiss-German author Dorothee Elmiger discusses her uncompromising novel, Shift Sleepers, published by Seagull Books, with host Andrew Singer. Includes generous excerpts in English read by the book’s translator, Megan Ewing. (30-minute audio)
((4)) JULIA VON LUCADOU: THE HIGH-RISE DIVER
Author Julia von Lucadou talks with host Andrew Singer about her dystopian debut novel The High-Rise Diver, nominated for the Swiss Book Prize in 2018. Includes excerpts read by English-language translator, Sharmila Cohen. This book is due out in English from World Editions in 2021. (44-minute audio)
((5)) VANNI BIANCONI: THE LOVELESS HOUSE
Poet, prose writer, editor, translator and literary organizer Vanni Bianconi speaks with host Andrew Singer about Italian-language culture in Switzerland, his work with Babel, a festival of literature and translation, and Specimen, a multilingual magazine online. We focus on The Loveless House, featuring a full audio version in multiple voices with music, composed by Dominique Le Gendre. (44-minute audio)
((6)) DANA GRIGORCEA: AN INSTINCTIVE FEELING OF INNOCENCE
Swiss-Romanian author Dana Grigorcea has won the Schweizer Literaturperle and the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize and has been shortlisted for the Swiss Book Prize. Here she discusses with host Andrew Singer her second novel, An Instinctive Feeling of Innocence – out now from Seagull Books, in English translation by Alta Price. Includes excerpts from the book. (45-minute audio)
((7)) PASCAL JANOVJAK: THE ROME ZOO
Swiss-French-Slovakian author Pascal Janovjak speaks with host Andrew Singer about his novel, Le Zoo de Rome (© Actes Sud, 2019), detailing development of the Rome Zoo over the past century – and by extension our relations with animals and the natural world. The Rome Zoo is due out in English translation from Black Inc. in Autumn 2021 (44-minute audio)
((8)) RINNY GREMAUD: IN A WORLD OF TAT
Swiss journalist Rinny Gremaud speaks with host Andrew Singer about Un monde en toc (In a World of Tat), her book exploring five shopping malls and their ecosystems in Edmonton, Beijing, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, and Casablanca (35-minute audio)
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