Whatever you do this weekend you must also find time to listen to a fantastic BBC World Book Club programme. Last November I was very lucky to sit in the audience during the recording of conversation between BBC’s Harriett Gilbert and the Norwegian writer Anne Holt about Anne’s book 1222. I even asked a question. Harriett Gilbert is a writer, journalist and literary editor and presents also A Good Read on Radio 4. I think Anne Holt, known for her sensible and brave political and social views, doesn’t need introductions: her writing career has been absolutely amazing, rich in interesting characters and story plots, showing the darkness of Scandinavia at various levels. She used to work as a lawyer and was a Minister of Justice, and is a truly engaged person, interested in what’s going on in the world. I’ve been a huge fan of her work, novels including A Grave for Two (2019) and A Memory For Murder (2022).  

When published in 2007 the book 1222 was not embraced warmly by the critics in Norway. However,  since then it became one of the most significant and loved by readers around the world. I read it ages ago on the train (where else?) from Oslo to Bergen, and loved translation to English by Marlaine Delargy.