Åsne Seierstad in Shanghai

War correspondent and journalist Åsne Seierstad. Photo: Fang Yyqiang, Xinmin Evening News

More than 60 authors from 22 countries participated in the 8^th annual Shanghai International Literary Festival, where Seierstad on March 6 took part in 2 separate events. Along with authors Riitta Jalonen (FIN), Lars Bukdahl (DK) and Sjon (ICL), she participated in a literary lunch with the theme “Nordic literature, Smorrebrod and Aquavit” where they discussed the implications of being writers from a remote Nordic country. “Being from a small country that doesn't have an imperialist background gives me a privilege authors from many other, bigger countries don't have” she said. She jokingly describes Norway as "democratic to the bone", that might be why we've often managed to keep an unbiased view on many of the conflicts in the world today. “But my writing is that of a reporter; I have a realistic approach to writing, writing stories from the real world. I don't regard myself as creative in the way that poets are" she said, referring to her fellow writers. "But understanding the culture I report from is crucial when I want do describe them later, therefore I always search for novels in the country I work in. My stories are out there, not inside me".

At the Shanghai International Literary Festival, Seierstad also had a session where she told her experiences reporting from war-zones. Referring to her last book "The Angel of Grotzny" , she spoke of her experiences from being a reporter in a country torn by war, and how it has affected people there, especially the children. "In a novel you can write things that are hard to express in a news article, and in this case my writing technique is more apt for novels then news reporting". Seierstad is known for her straight forward writing style, and she sometimes uses brutal means in her portrayal. "Chechnya is a forgotten conflict", she explains. "It is necessary to use means that make people listen, I write out of consciousness."

On Sunday March 7, she gave a press meeting at Shanghai Changning Library, organized by Dupin Readers’ Salon, co-organized by Shanghai Changning Library and supported by the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in Shanghai. First she presented her works to the Chinese local literature enthusiasts at the Salon, and then there was a dialogue between the author and readers. Seierstad was surprised by the local media’s profound knowledge about her writings and works in China, and around 6 Chinese local media were present following the event with great interest.

On March 8, Seierstad was invited to Nanjing by the Chinese-Nordic Culture Centre at Nanjing University. About 80 students and faculty members attended her lecture followed by questions from the audience. Students showed great interests in getting the Chinese version of Seierstad’s book The Bookseller of Kabul and queued up for her autograph. A one-hour long interview with Overseas Channel in Jiangsu TV Station was also conducted and will be on air soon.

After having completed the very successful seminar at Nanjing University, Åsne Seierstad was back in Shanghai already the day after, and together with the above mentioned Nordic writers she participated in a workshop with Shanghai Writers Association (SWA). SWA was represented by the four well known Shanghainese authors Mrs. Qin Wenqun, Mr. Mao Shi’an, Mrs. Zhang Ye and Mr. Qiang Ying. This informal setting proved to be a good arena for exchanging literary thoughts and experiences between the Nordic authors and their Chinese colleagues, as well as establishing new relationships. The Chinese authors, 2 of whom even had visited Norway themselves, showed great interest in Åsne Seierstad’s work. Gifts and contact information were exchanged, and the workshop was rounded up with poems in Chinese and Icelandic.

On the same afternoon, Seierstad participated in the seminar “Literature in a global perspective” at Shanghai’s prestigious Fudan University. More than 300 Fudan students was told the story of how she started her career as a writer when she was studying Russian and political science, about her experience in Afghanistan and even that she once studied Chinese at Peking University for six months. Especially her background as a female Norwegian, growing up with liberal parents in the 1970’s, and how these aspects have shaped her as a person and her writings, caught the young Chinese audience’s attention. Seierstad on the other hand, was particularly impressed by the Fudan University students’ literary interest and the many relevant questions that were raised during the question and answer session. The seminar was concluded by book- and postcard signing.

Fudan students lining up to get Seierstad's autograph. Photo: CG Shanghai

The listeners have been greatly interested and fascinated by her experience and her courage for being a young woman who travels frequently in war zone countries in order to tell the world the unknown stories of the common people’s daily life. Åsne Seierstad is currently continuing her China-tour in Beijing. For information about where to see her, please see our event calendar.