Torbjörn Flygt’s impressive breakthrough novel Underdog appeared in 2001. Heralded by universal acclaim in book reviews, Underdog won the August Prize and went on to sell more than 400 000 copies. Now, ten years later, it’s time to meet Johan Kraft a ...
Torbjörn Flygt’s impressive breakthrough novel Underdog appeared in 2001. Heralded by universal acclaim in book reviews, Underdog won the August Prize and went on to sell more than 400 000 copies. Now, ten years later, it’s time to meet Johan Kraft again, in Outsider.
A decade has passed in Johan Kraft’s life. He’s older and wiser, if also slightly gloomier. It’s the ‘80s and Johan is reading Law at Lund University. His girlfiend Helena’s dream is to buy a house and have children - she wants the total family experience. But Johan doesn’t - he isn’t ready. In the book we meet Johan, his relatives, and friends in both good times and bad. Studies, student life and the dilemma of choice - all seen from the working class perspective of the first post-War generation for whom higher education was possible. They see their dreams come true - dreams that for their parents were mere fantasy.
Outsider takes place in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s with flashforwards to more modern times. Sweden loses its innocence as Prime Minister Olof Palme is killed on a Stockholm street and the xenophobic Ny Demokrati party gets into the Swedish Parliament.
Press voices:
”Flygt manages to make the utterly average life of the utterly average Johan Kraft both entertaining and gripping. /…/ In full flow, Flygt’s writing style evokes nothing less than the sound of pure jazz improvisation. Riffing from a starting theme, he throws us into whirlwinds of splendidly rhythmic language, replete with unexpected images, details and variations. Somehow, and inexplicably, he then finds his way back to that initial theme again.”
Svenska Dagbladet
“Flygt’s new novel is a minor masterpiece.” Gefle Dagblad
“In this mature piece of writing Flygt has succeeded where so many other authors have failed. He has created living-breathing fiction, populated with characters who resonate ever more deeply as you get to know them - people whose individual fates combine both the mundane and the epic.”
Sydsvenskan
"Realism at its best" Smålandsposten
"The result is an emotional, well written and engaging novel about identity, class and society.” Norrtelje Tidning
"Brilliant literature well worth the wait” Jönköpings-Posten
"Wow, I say. Flygts nimble prose is like Leo Messi’s football art, clever, precise, joyful, equilibristic, and just soooooo wonderful." Norrländska Socialdemokraten
”As you can probably guess this is a book to relate to, to feel with and laugh with. Flygt’s narrative zest is glowing.” Blekinge Läns Tidning