A small book published by SAS in 2000 as part of a collection called Scandinavian Words, consisting of 18 books of classical Scandinavian literature from around the turn of the last century.

The six Swedish, six Danish and six Norwegian titles each contain the original Scandinavian-language version, an English translation and a preface by a leading Scandinavian writer.

This book includes a selection of letters written by Selma Lagerlöf to her mother while travelling in Egypt and Palestine with her colleague and friend/beloved Sophie Elkan in 1899–1900.

I read the letters in both the Swedish original and the English translation as the turn-of-the-century Swedish is quite hard to grasp at times.

The letters provide an interesting glimpse into the travels of two Northern European ladies in Northern Africa and the Middle East at the turn of the century. At times Lagerslöf's descriptions make you roll your eyes, however, as she paints a picture of the locals as odd-looking savages etc. That's representative of the time, of course, but still...

Small RABCK to a friend. Enjoy!

Oh thank you! Actually, I like the fact that there is English in this too, Swedish might be a bit hard for me!

I agree with Annimanni's journal entry! Well, the times were different then, and so was the general knowledge, opinions etc. Interesting little book anyway!

A small surprise!

It is nice to get small suprises. :)

I really liked these letters. I love history and so it was interesting to know how people from Scandinavia thought about Egypt and Africa at the turn of the century. Of course the opinions and expressions were different then. Interesting!

Posti kuljettaa Pellulle.

Thank you myrtillus for this surprise book.

I didn't notice at first there is English translations also, but I was already happy to have this kind of book. These short letters seem like a perfect sort of text to activate my Swedish skills.