Icelandic novel finds Chinese audience

Icelandic author Sjon says his novel The Blue Fox will appeal to Chinese readers because it deals with times of epic changes and vicious sides of humanity. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Edda, Saga, Nobel Literature prize-winning Halldor Kiljan Laxness.

They're not the only facets of Icelandic culture known to Chinese. In fact, China has been introduced to more than 70 Icelandic authors in the past century, more than 200 different kinds of works.

"We're very acquainted with literature from Northern Europe," says Shi Qin'e, a professor with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of Foreign Literature, who also brought Edda and Saga, the two mythological folklores, to China. "To that extent we're one rung higher in terms of cultural exchange."

The latest fuel for this fascination with the island is The Blue Fox, the first contemporary novel translated from Icelandic to Chinese.

The poetic story of suspense by Sjon covers the isle's wild creatures and lifestyle as well as humanity manifested in how villagers treat a girl with Down syndrome.

The book was released at the end of March by the Yilin Press.

Sjon, the award-winning novelist, says the story will appeal to Chinese readers because it deals with times of epic changes and vicious sides of humanity.

"We're interested in Iceland's culture for a variety of reasons," says Shi, the researcher, at the book launch. "It's the Northern European country that draws us in."

"They have an enviable education and welfare system," Shi says. "Welfare-states are particularly interesting to us."