16th January Newsletter

In a world that seems to make less and less sense, (and when the sheer volume of news, podcasts and social media threatens to overwhelm), we often find ourselves reaching for books to inform and enlighten. Non-fiction by writers of authority can certainly help, but when a lesser-known nation hits the headlines, we at Veranda often look to translated literature to further our understanding of that country’s culture, identity, and place in the world.

However, with Greenland very much in the news lately, we admit to some blank spaces on our shelves and wondered why.

Greenlandic (Kalaallisut), is a challenging language to translate, and with a small native population, Greenlandic literature is relatively limited.

But this is slowly changing, with the growth of small presses, such as Nuuk-based Milik, and UCL-affiliated Norvik Press, while increased Danish-Greenlandic collaboration may see more translated literature making it into the world. In the meantime, if you’re curious about this mysterious northern island, here are our recommendations:

• So You Want To Own Greenland: Lessons From The Vikings to Trump by Elizabeth Buchanan. Published late last year, and written by a polar geopolitics expert, this book will give you a good understanding of the rich and complex history of this strategically-significant country
• Last Night in Nuuk by Niviaq Korneliussen (tr. Anna Halager) An intense yet humorous novella about the lives and loves of five young Greenlanders from the leading light in contemporary Greenlandic literature
• An African in Greenland by Tété-Michel Kpomassie (tr. James Kirkup and Ros Schwartz). Originally written in 1977, and rereleased as a Penguin Modern Classic in 2021, this landmark travel memoir recounts Kpomassie’s journey from his native Togo to Greenland where he subsequently immersed himself in Inuit life.
• Miss Smilla’s Feeling For Snow by Peter Hoeg (tr. Tiina Nunnally) With both plot and character veering from Greenland to Denmark, this outstanding Danish crime novel provides some insight into the complicated relationship between these two nations. 20-plus years after publication in the UK, it’s still a great read on a wintry evening.

Call into the shop to pick up any of these books – or order online.