FarLit – an abbreviation of Faroese Literature - promotes Faroese literature on the international book market. FarLit is funded by the Ministry of Culture.
Initial stage
The cross-organisational collaboration that preceded FarLit began in 2011 under the name ‘Faroese Books’ with the aim to promote Faroese books at the Frankfurt Book Fair the same year. This was made possible as Iceland was Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2011, and kindly provided a special window for the Faroe Islands in association with the Icelandic stand.
The Faroese Ministry of Culture decided to use this excellent opportunity to highlight Faroese literature and a literary committee was appointed to select a range of books representing contemporary Faroese literature. The members of the committee were Dr Malan Marnersdóttir, Professor of Literature at the University of the Faroe Islands, Dr Guðrun Gaard, teacher at the Tórshavn Gymnasium and Dr Bergur D. Hansen, Associate Professor of Literature at the University of the Faroe Islands.
The ten books selected included five novels, one volume of poetry, two collections of short stories, one children’s book and one academic publication. Translations of excerpts were made available in German and English.
Furthermore, a special edition of the Faroese literary magazine Vencil was published in English.
The Faroese delegation at the Frankfurt Book Fair consisted of some 20 people, including a selection of featured authors and representatives from some of the publishers.
LISA, the Faroese Artists’ Association, coordinated the Faroese participation at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2011.
FarLit 2012
After the 2011 Frankfurt Book Fair the delegation assessed its project and found that in order to ensure that the messages and efforts of the participants were conveyed as a collected and focused whole further strategic plans were necessary. It was decided to appoint a co-ordinator who would take lead in the promotion of Faroese literature for the book fairs in Göteborg and Frankfurt in 2012.
The works committee has made revisions to the list, updating some and adding others. In 2012, the list consists of six novels, one poetry collection, two short story collections, two children’s books and three academic publications. Excerpts of these titles will be made available in German and English shortly.
The goal of FarLit’s 2012-project at the two book fairs in Gothenburg and Frankfurt were:
To create visibility and presence on the international book market
To show a united Faroese participation across governmental and cultural organisations, private and public
To establish and keep contact with foreign agencies and publishers prior to, during and after the book fairs for foreign rights sales of Faroese literature
This website is a window into a selection of contemporary Faroese literature and the objective is to continually extend the body of works represented.
FarLit 2013
In 2013 Visit Faroe Islands, the official Faroese Tourist Board, joined our other supporters in making the FarLit project a reality for this years book fairs. FarLit is up and running and will attend the book fairs in Gothenburg and Frankfurt. We will continue the work of promoting Faroese literature based on the past years’ ground work, and inform publishing houses and agents of translation grants, authors, works, etc.
FarLit 2014
In 2014 FarLit assumed the administrative role of managing the grant monies for the Faroese portion of the Nordic Ministry's Translation and Production Grant. This means that all Nordic publishers wishing to translate Faroese titles into another Nordic language can now apply for the translation grant from us directly. The list of works for special attention at the book fairs is now up to 16 titles. FarLit attended the London Book Fair with other Nordic literary offices at the joint Nordic stand. At the Gothenburg Book Fair in September, FarLit held a seminar on contemporary poetry and poets and release an anthology of poetry in Swedish translation with entries by three Faroese poets. FarLit also attended the largest European book fair in Frankfurt in October.
FarLit 2015
By 1 March, Ms Urd Johannesen took over the half-time position as literary coordinator of FarLit. FarLit participated at the joint Nordic stand at the London Book Fair 14-17 April, and also took part with a national stand at the Gothenburg and Frankfurt Book Fairs. Nordic publishers who want to translate Faroese titles into another Nordic language may apply for the Nordic translation grant directly from FarLit. Application dead-lines are 1 April and 1 October.
FarLit 2017
By 1 January, FarLit is fully funded by the Ministry of Culture and will continue to take part in the book fairs in London, Gothenburg and Frankfurt. FarLit is also involved in other activities like the Book Festival in November in Tórshavn and new initiatives that will promote Faroese literature abroad.
FarLit 2020
FarLit continues to participate in the book fairs in London, Gothenburg and Frankfurt. However, this year, they have all been cancelled due to the covid-19 virus. Thus, FarLit has launched a film project TRANSLATION TEASERS with nine short films, each showcasing a Faroese book and author. In 2019, FarLit organised its first translators’ seminar for 10 international translators who are fairly new to the discipline of translating from Faroese into their own language. Working more closely with translators is key to the work sentence of bringing Faroese literature to readers abroad.
FarLit 2023
By 1 January, Ms Jóhanna H. Wolles took over the half-time position as literary coordinator of FarLit. In this postpandemic era FarLit is back to normal and will participate in bookfairs and start initiatives to promote Faroese literature. Translators and publishers can apply for translation grants on farlit.fo