Bavian [Baboon]

Short stories by Naja Marie Aidt 2006

Bavian consists of 15 short stories about modern life and all of its affluence, individualism, stress, boredom, dreams, infidelity, everyday life and joint custody and about how little it takes before the inner baboon shows its red and blue backside and venture to show its face underneath the civilized human being’s well-groomed appearance.

Example 1: a family shopping trip is transformed into a nightmare, when a couple forgets to put a bag of sweets on the supermarket conveyer belt, and is charged with theft.

Example 2: a husband acts on a satanically desire to tell about his affair with his wife’s sister, just as their six-year-old son is injured in a bike accident.

Naja Marie Aidt, born in 1963, made her debut in 1991 with a collection of poetry called Så længe jeg er ung [As Long As I Am Young] and has since written a number of poetry collections and two highly-praised short story collections, Vandmærket [The Water Mark], 1993, og Tilgang [Access], 1995, both of which have been published in several editions.

Press quotes:

“It really is possible; to write about reality, and about the modern anxiety, in such a way that the experience shockingly propagates itself in the reader (…) written by an author who can actually write.” 
– Mai Misfeldt, Berlingske Tidende 

“Brilliant, small pieces of art.”
– Lilian Munk Rösing, Information

“Short-story-craziness (…) overflowing with a mad passion, sudden rage and quiet depression.”
– Lars Bukdahl, Weekendavisen

“An important new interpreter of the Danish short-story tradition (…) Hits the reader right in the pit of the stomach.”
– Svend Skriver, Kristeligt Dagblad

“Aidt’s universe is unmistakable (…) always with her heart in her hands.”
– Søren Vinterberg, Politiken

The most important awards for Bavian

The Critic’s Award   2006
(Denmark's most prestigious literary award)

Granted lifelong subsidy from the Danish Arts Council   2006

Nordic Council’s Literature Prize   2008
(Scandinavia's most prestigious literary award)

Previous publishers:

Germany/Suhrkamp, Achilla Presse
Italy/Edizioni Pendragon
Sweden/Ellerströms Förlag

Foreign rights sold to

Germany/Luchterhand Verlag
France/ Les Éditions les Allusifs
Canada/Les Éditions les Allusifs
Sweden/Lind & Co.
The Czech Republic/Dauphin
Norway/Dinamo
Latvia/ 1/4 Satori

Winner of the Nordic Council Literature Prize 2008 »
Speech in honour of Naja Marie Aidt »
Read "Bulbjerg" »