All Dahl’d Up with Someplace to Go

As we reported previously, iconic British literary publisher Faber & Faber seems deadly serious about expanding its list of crime and thriller works. Most UK publishing houses now make sure to have at least one Scandinavian crime writer in their stables, and Faber & Faber is no exception, claiming on its roster Norwegian Kjell Ola “K.O.” Dahl, author of The Fourth Man and The Man in the Window.

Faber clearly intends to make the most of this association. Alex Holyrod, Faber’s former “Publicist of the Year,” recently e-mailed me the invitation to what looks like a very interesting event, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, November 18, and feature a rare appearance by Dahl himself. Entitled “Norway in Words,” the affair will begin at 7:30 p.m. at The Kings Place in London (Hall 1, Kings Place, 90 York Way). Tickets are available to the public at £6.50 apiece.

Holyrod’s introduction to this event reads as follows:

Chaired by Norwegian literary expert Paul Binding, this event features readings and discussion by some of Norway’s leading writers, including Merete Morken Andersen, Tore Renberg joining Kjell Ola Dahl.

Merete Morken Andersen is a writer who faces human emotion head-on. UK readers will know her from Oceans of Time and Agnes and Molly where she penetrates deeply into the human psyche.

Tore Renberg became a literary rock star in 2003 with the publication of his novel Mannen som elsket Yngve (The Man Who Loved Yngve), the first of three books about Jarle Klepp, a young boy growing up with an alcoholic father and a passion for music. A musician too, as well as a former TV presenter, Renberg now writes full time: “I’m a lucky little man. I read Henry James. I am able to do what I want. Write, write, write. And listen to The Smiths.” UK readers can enjoy his work as one of the featured writers in a new anthology celebrating the vibrant cultural scene of his home town Stavanger, City of Culture 2008. Renberg will introduce the first UK screening of the film Mannen som elsket Yngve in the St. Pancras Room after Norway in Words.

After more than a decade of enormous success in his home country, Kjell Ola Dahl--the master of Norwegian crime writing--is now gaining wider recognition abroad with his intelligent crime novels. Dubbed “the Norwegian Mankell,” his skilful plots, literary prose and dark, dryly humorous stories have scooped the country’s most prestigious crime novel award, the Riverton Prize, as well as helping his fictional Detective Inspectors Gunnarstranda and Frølich achieve cult status. He has published two novels in English, The Fourth Man and The Man In The Window, with a third due in June 2009.

Holyrod invites all Rap Sheet readers (who happen to be in London on November 18, that is) to attend. More details are available here. And note that Jo Nesbø (The Devil’s Star), who was originally slated to participate in this event as well, had to cancel.

READ MORE: K.O. Dahl blogs at Moments in Crime.