Colony

Annika Norlin (trans. Alice E. Olsson)

‘Swedish writer Norlin’s remarkable debut revolves around a commune in the Swedish countryside … Norlin’s character work is superior, bringing each Colony member to vivid life and examining in nuanced detail how they interact. It’s an impressive tale of a found family.’

Publishers Weekly

‘Mesmerising, lush, and unsettling ... Colony is extraordinary.’

Diane Cook, author of The New Wilderness

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‘What makes this book so clever is that you unwittingly follow Emelie’s trajectory of thought about the Colony: suspicious at first, then slowly seduced, before realising that things are not as perfect as they seem. The novel is testament to the power of writerly discipline.’

Laura Hackett, The Times

A mega bestseller in Sweden — and winner of its two biggest literary awards — Colony is a gripping portrayal of contemporary society and its alternatives.

Burnt-out from a demanding job and a bustling life in the city, Emelie has left town to spend a few days in the country. Once there, in the peaceful, verdant hills, down by the river she encounters a mysterious group of seven people, each with personal stories full of pain, alienation, and the longing to live differently. They are misfits, each in their own way, and all led by the enigmatic and charismatic Sara.

How did they end up there? Are they content with the rigid roles they’ve been assigned? And what happens when an outsider appears and is initially drawn to their alternative lifestyle, but cannot help stirring things up?

A masterful blend of humour, emotion, unforgettable characters, and sharp social commentary, Colony is a magnetic and deeply touching story about love, community, and the unfathomable power we have over others and that others have over us.

Publishers Weekly

‘Mesmerising, lush, and unsettling ... Colony is extraordinary.’

Diane Cook, author of The New Wilderness

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Details

Format:Paperback

Size: 198mm × 129mm

Extent:416pp

ISBN (13):9781761381294

RRP:$32.99

Pub date:4 Mar 2025

Rights Held: UK & Commonwealth (ex. Can) + Europe

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AUTHOR

Annika Norlin

Born in the northern parts of Sweden, Annika Norlin is a writer and musician. She has won numerous awards for her lyrically driven indie pop in her own name, and in projects Hello Saferide and Säkert! After searching for her authorial voice for decades, she finally found it in 2020 when she published her debut book, a collection of short stories. Colony is her debut novel. It has won several awards in Sweden and will be published in fifteen languages.

TRANSLATOR

Alice E. Olsson

Alice E. Olsson is a literary translator, writer, and editor working across Swedish and English. She has served as the Cultural Affairs Adviser at the Embassy of Sweden in London and is the recipient of a fellowship as well as multiple grants from the Swedish Arts Council. She has been shortlisted for the 2020 Peirene Stevns Translation Prize and the 2023 Bernard Shaw Prize.