Copenhagen

18th of May 2010 from 18.00

“If there is Hrabal - there is hope”

in words

Bohumil Hrabal translated into Swedish

A lecture by Mats Larsson was held in connection with the international project Literature Night.

The title of the lecture refers to a quotation of a renown Swedish journalist, writer and correspondent of the Swedish Radio from the former Eastern Europe Kiell Albin Abrahanson and to his article about translation of Hrabal’s work into Swedish.

Swedish translator and scientist of literature Mats Larsson brought closer the work of Bohumil Hrabal to the audience and pointed towards translational ‘teases’ of Hrabal’s language. The lecture was coupled with readings from books which he himself has translated.

All together nine pieces from Hrabal’s work have been translated into Swedish who has therefore became the second most translated Czech author in Sweden after Ladislav Klíma (13 titles). Mats Larsson translated four pieces of them.