We are happy and surprised. We thought she would get the prize sometime, but are still taken aback. It's a relatively young person in this context, says Richard Herold, publicity responsible at the publishing house.
In Swedish, four works by the South Korean author have been published: "The Vegetarian", "Living and Dead", "The White Book", and "I Don't Say Goodbye".
Han Kang's Swedish publisher Nina Eidem is at home taking care of a sick child when TT reaches her by phone.
I was standing and frying potatoes for my daughter when the Academy called. I have trouble collecting myself, this is enormous, says she.
Nina Eidem thinks it's a fine choice that the Academy has made.
It's good to read Han Kang if you feel hopeless about the state of the world. She reminds us of important things and how vulnerable we humans are to each other, says Nina Eidem.
Nina Eidem believes it's a good time in Han Kang's career to be awarded the Nobel Prize. She got a big breakthrough with "The Vegetarian" which, according to Eidem, is more contemporary and absurd than her other works.
We at Natur & Kultur chose to publish "The Vegetarian" and "Living and Dead" simultaneously, to give a complete picture of her authorship, says she.
