LIGHTS
ISSUE 3//2018
IMPORTANT DATES
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
SEPTEMBER
27th – Fireside Chat & Dinner
with Mr Kjetil Stormark
15 25 28
OCTOBER
18th – Aquavit & Wealth
Management Evening
07 New Board
Members
5th Fredagspils
December 30 Den Norske Klub
Merchandise
6th The Art Series:
Frieze London 7th Fredagspils
Excursion
11th In&Out Pol Roger
14th In&Out End of
Term Lunch
25 DISCOVERY
Beautiful Borneo
Dinner
18th Aquavit Tasting Nordisk Books
2019
& Wealth
Management January 28 – Interview with
CEO & Founder
Evening with Duncan Lewis
Danske Bank 4th Fredagspils
Norwegian
Norwegian
Private
Private
Members
Members
Club
Club
n London
in London
since
since
17th17th
of May
of May
18871887
JoinJoin
us! us!
secretary@dennorskeklub.co.uk
secretary@dennorskeklub.co.uk
dennorskeklub.co.uk
dennorskeklub.co.uk
Don’t just hope
for a better future.
Plan for one.
What does the future look like for you and your loved ones?
We are all about helping you achieve your aspirations,
and we acknowledge that everyone has a unique set
of challenges. That is why we are genuinely committed to
understanding you and your ambitions for the future.
This publication is for informational purposes only. It does not constitute a financial promotion.
Our London contacts are available to introduce you to the Private Banking network in SEB, but Private
Banking services such as asset management are not provided from the UK and therefore any contractual
relationship will be with the SEB entity actually providing such services.
Please be aware that the value of investments can go down as well as up. Past performance is not
necessarily a reliable indicator of future performance. Future returns are not guaranteed and a loss of
principal may occur.
Message from YOUR BOARD
Dear Members
Welcome back to London and to the Klub Board continues to deliver on its promises
to those of you who have been away for to take the Klub into the 21st century and to
the summer. I hope you have all thoroughly create a more sustainable, more transparent
enjoyed your summer holidays, both in and more open Klub for its members,
the UK, back in Norway and elsewhere the Board’s main focus in the next few
in Europe and further afar. The autumn months will be to conclude a new and more
edition of the Klub’s newsletter Northern permanent agreement with The In&Out. We
Lights not only features memories from aim to have something finalised to present
the first DNK-Nora Salon in June and to the members at the June 2019 AGM.
Scandikitchen’s very own recipe for
With an additional 3 new board members
lovely kanelboller, but also our regular
(you can see their profiles on page 7),
columns, Norwegians in Focus, profiling
we will continue to follow up on your
Norwegian’s around the world, Discovery,
suggestions of introducing more new
featuring travel, culture and food reviews,
events and we are proud to announce our
and Investor’s Corner, with the latest
first joint event with The In&Out, a fireside
investment recommendations from a panel
chat and dinner with Security Expert and
of Nordic industry experts. In the latest
Journalist Kjetil Stormark (27th September).
issue, Northern Lights new Chief Editor,
Led by the Klub’s new Chief Editor and
Ken Skaarbrevik writes about the inventor
Board Member, Ken Skaarbrevik, the talk
Ole Brude, Chair Cecilia Luras interviews
and ensuing dinner debate should prove
nordisk books publisher Duncan Lewis,
very interesting indeed! Going into the
and Board Member Constanse Bowes-Lyon
autumn season, we have many more fun
continues to share with us her memories
and interesting events planned for you.
and photos from her exciting “around-the-
In addition to the fireside chat and dinner
world” travels. In this edition, it’s all about
with Security Expert and Journalist Kjetil
Borneo.
Stormark, we will be hosting the annual
We thoroughly enjoyed welcoming you to Wealth Management & Aquavit Tasting
the Klub’s first Salon in cooperation with with Danske Bank International on the
Nora Nettverksklub in June. Inspired by the 18th October. The (in)famous Den Norske
Salons of the 17th and 18th centuries, our Klub Julebord will take place Saturday
first guest of honour was Professor Kristin 24th November (tickets are already on
Bakke. Professor Bakke is professor of sale via the secretary!). And within the Art
Political Science and International Relations Series, we are planning a visit to Frieze
at University College in London and Art courtesy of Bernard Jacobson Gallery,
Associate Research Professor at the Peace and a guided visit of SEBs Private Art
Research Institute in Oslo. You can enjoy Collection with networking drinks on the
memories from the debate in this issue and 28th November. And last but not least, let’s
we are looking forward to welcoming you not forget, the Klub’s excellent Fredagspils
to the next one. gathering. It’s every first Friday of the
month and an excellent opportunity to
At the AGM I gave you an update of the
meet fellow Norwegians!
new initiatives the current Board have put
in place in the past year, including our Going into next year, without giving away
move to become 100% cashless, a new too much of the surprise, we will be hosting
and re-looked newsletter, reworking the a series of Salons in cooperation with
Klub’s fixed cost base and securing future leading business schools and universities, a
revenue streams for the Klub. Whilst your dinner to celebrate the annual emergence
Continued overleaf
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 5
of the famous Norwegian cod-fish skrei
with the Norwegian Seafood Council and Your Board
in the darkness of the winter months, a Cecilia Luras
film-evening… And of course more fun Chair
Fredagspils! Christian Hvamstad
Board Member and COO
We hope you continue to enjoy the club
and look forward to seeing you all in the Maria Efimova
months ahead! Board Member and Secretary
6 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
NEW BOARD MEMBERS
We are pleased to announce the addition of 3 new board members to
Den Norske Klub’s Board. In addition to Cecilia Luras, who continues
as Chair, and Christian Hvamstad, Hege Nordahl, Irene Garland, Pauline
Houpillart and Constanse Bowes-Lyon, all continuing board members, Maria
Efimova, Ken Skaarbrevik and Christopher Eckhoff will join the board, each
for a 3 year term. Please meet them here:
Maria Efimova
While Maria was doing her degree in Software Engineering at the university
of Southampton she spent her summers in Oslo studying Norwegian at the
University of Oslo. Although she is living in the UK, it is very important for her
to stay connected to Norway: she was a member of the Nordic Society at the
university and then joined DNK after graduation. Now Maria does technology
for an asset management company in London and a part time PhD in Data
Science. This leaves her with just enough free time to do travelling (mostly in Norway) and
participate in the club’s life.
As well as being our GDPR point person, Maria will be responsible for the secretary
function at the club.
Ken Skaarbrevik
Ken has over thirty years experience in the field of TV production, as
Operational manager, Executive Producer and CEO of several media
companies, including a local commercial broadcaster in Sunnmøre,
western Norway. Ken’s career has spanned over news, documentaries and
also children’s programs. Most of his work though has been running live
sports productions mainly covering football; as host broadcaster of UEFA
Champions League games in Norway, onsite Premier League productions for the Nordics
and covering Team Norway at a number of European and World Cup events. Educated
at London Film School and National Film & TV School, he has worked most of the career
in London mainly for UK based Scandinavian broadcasters like TV1000, TV3, Viasat, and
Disney Scandinavia. Ken lives in North London with his British/Israeli wife, their two
grown-up children living with their partners in the same area. He enjoys reading historical
and military literature, writing screenplays and visiting the English countryside and the
amazing fjord country of western Norway.
Ken will be responsible for the production of the club’s newsletter Northern Lights.
Christopher Eckhoff
Christopher is a freelance consultant who has worked with security,
insurance, communication and hospitality. When he’s not working, he can be
found reading, writing, pontificating history and geopolitical events, travelling
and sailing.
Christopher will join Pauline Houpillart as events coordinator.
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 7
The First
DEN NORSKE KLUB –
NORA SALON, June 2018
Text and photos by Cecilia Luras
D
r. Bakke is Professor of Political Science and
Inspired by the Salons of the International Relations at University College
17th and 18th centuries*, London (UCL) and Associate Research
Den Norske Klub in cooperation Professor at the Peace Research Institute Oslo
(PRIO). She is also an associate editor at the
with Nora Nettverksklub hosted PRIO-based Journal of Peace Research. Focusing
the first Salon Tuesday 12th on political violence, Kristin’s research explores
June. Hugely successful with how states respond to opposition within their
more than 35 attendees, the borders, the dynamics of violence in self-
first DNK-Nora Salon featured determination struggles, and post-war state-
building. She is part of the Conflict & Change
Professor Kristin Bakke. research cluster at UCL and her publications draw
on cross-national data, public opinion surveys,
and fieldwork—in Russia, Northern Ireland, India,
Guatemala, Canada, and several post-Soviet de
facto states. Please see here for more about
Professor Bakke @ https://kristinbakke.com
8 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
* The Salons of the Enlightenment, were central, social meeting places in which individuals engaged in
the art of conversation in pursuit of knowledge and fellowship. The Salon debates typically touched on a
variety of subjects ranging from science, philosophy and politics, to literature and art.
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 9
metrobranding.no
Invester i en
lykkelig alderdom
Villa Mokollen
er Norges første
unike eldrehjem
i sin klasse
in the UK
good coffee and a smorgasbord
of lunch items; from smoked
salmon and egg to roastbeef and
JOIN
remoulade and everything in
between – from everyday classics
to treats for the big occasions
US THIS
AUTUMN
N
ordic food has been increasingly
popular over the past decade –
we, of course, are not surprised
– and like to remind people that there’s
so much more to Nordic food than
pickled herring and meatballs. There
are several distinctly Nordic cheeses,
for example – Norway’s brown cheese
is amongst the more famous ones
– and one that is gaining popularity
faster than you can say waffle iron.
Brown cheese topped with a dollop of
jam or perhaps a little honey is a real
Norwegian treat!
Brown cheese aside, several dishes
and ingredients link all the countries
of Scandinavia together, bringing
a uniquely Nordic cuisine together.
Stretching from the midnight sun of
Continued overleaf
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 11
northern Norway to the flat, fertile fields
of Denmark, Scandinavian food culture is Bronte Aurell’s
vast and varied, but at the core there are
more similarities than differences, formed by
Cinnamon Bun
thousands of years of shared culture (and
a bit of good old Viking pillaging) which
has turned into our shared Scandinavian
heritage.
In essence, Scandinavian food is simple.
We call it husmannskost – farmer’s fare.
It’s natural and honest, made with the
staple produce found on the land. For
ScandiKitchen, trying to turn traditional
dishes into fancy and fussy affairs isn’t
true to who we are. When you work with
the very best produce, there’s no need to
overcomplicate it. Just pick (or pickle),
serve and eat. Our topless sandwiches
are offered alongside seasonal, hearty
salads, homemade baked goods and
nostalgic favourites like hotdogs – because
sometimes, a proper pølse is all you need.
In addition to our breakfast, lunch and
coffee & cake offering, we also stock BUN DOUGH:
hundreds Norwegian food and drink items •5
0 g fresh compressed yeast (or 26g
– from brown cheese and Norvegia to active dried yeast granules).
crispbreads, coffees, jams and chocolates •5
00 ml whole milk heated to 36–37°C
(yes, including Kvikk Lunsj for your hikes!). (97–99°F) – no more or the yeast will
Pop by or visit our online shop - we ship die
across the UK and EU, aiming to cure any • 150 g butter melted and cooled slightly
degree of homesickness. • 80 g caster/granulated sugar
Cafe & Shop: • 900-1000 g white strong bread flour
61 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7PP •3
generous teaspoons ground
Online shop: www.scandikitchen.co.uk/dnk cardamom – I like it strong – and use
Twitter & Facebook: @scandikitchen freshly ground
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 egg beaten
FILLING:
• 200 g butter soft
• 1 tsp plain flour
• 2-3 tbsp ground cinnamon (25g)
• 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/2 tsp vanilla sugar or extract
• 100 g caster sugar
• 100 g soft brown light sugar
• 1 Egg for brushing.
• Pearl sugar to decorate.
•G
olden Syrup and Date syrup equal
measures (100ml of each)
12 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
INSTRUCTIONS dough and work in more flour if needed.
Cut the dough into two equal pieces
Make the fillings: and using a rolling pin, roll out one lump
1.Cream all the ingredients for filling of dough to a 40 x 50 cm/16 x 20 in.
together until smooth and set aside. rectangle.
8. U
sing a spatula, spread the filling across
Make the dough:
the dough in an event, thin layer.
1. If using fresh yeast, add the lukewarm
milk to your mixing bowl in a stand mixer 9. T
o make traditional swirls, roll the dough
and add the yeast; stir until dissolved. lengthways into a long roll and cut into
15-16 pieces with a sharp knife. Place on
2. ( If using active dry yeast (granules), pour
a lined baking tray, and leave – covered
the warm milk into a bowl, sprinkle in the
– to rise for another 20 minutes. Repeat
yeast and whisk together. Cover with
with the remaining dough.
cling film and leave in a warm place for
about 15 minutes to become bubbly. Pour Bake:
into the bowl of a food mixer fitted with 1. Heat the oven to 200 degrees Celcius
a dough hook). (fan). Brush the buns lightly with beaten
3. S
tart the machine and add the cooled, egg, then bake for 7-9 minutes or until
melted butter. Allow to combine with golden and done. Watch it, they can
the yeast for 1 minute or so, then add the burn easily and different ovens vary in
sugar and mix for a minute. temperature: My oven bakes these on
4. In a separate bowl, weigh out 800g of 180C fan in 8 minutes.
flour, add the cardamom and salt and 2. W
hile they are baking, heat the golden
mix together. Start adding the flour and syrup and date syrup in a pan until warm
spices into the milk mixture, bit by bit. and liquid. If you can’t get hold of date
Add the beaten egg. Keep kneading for syrup, just use golden –but Date syrup
5 minutes. does add a lovely flavour to the buns.
5. Y
ou may need to add more flour – you 3. When the buns come out of the oven,
want the mixture to end up a bit sticky, immediately brush lightly with the syrup,
but not so much that it sticks to your then add pearl sugar (nibbed sugar) on
finger if you poke it. It is better not to top of the buns and cover with a quite
add too much flour as this will result in damp tea towel. The tea towel stops
dry buns – and you can always add more the buns from going dry and forming a
later. The mixture has enough flour when crust – leave it on there for at least five
it starts to let go of the sides of the bowl. minutes.
6. O
nce mixed, leave the dough in a bowl 4. If you cannot get hold of nib sugar (pearl
and cover with a clingfilm. Allow to sugar), you can use chopped hazelnuts
rise for around 30 minutes – or until it etc instead as an alternative – or just
has doubled in size (this time can vary leave it off.
depending on the temperature in your 5. T
he buns last only for 24-36 hours – as
kitchen). with all fresh bread – so freeze as soon as
7. D
ust a table top with flour and turn out they have cooled down if you can’t eat
the dough. Using your hands, knead the 36 buns in one go.
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 13
NEW!
Fly directly from
Liverpool to Bergen
FROM
£69
Book at wideroe.co.uk
*
NORWEGIANS IN FOCUS
OLE BRUDE
The inventor that made
us safe at sea Text and photos by Ken Skaarbrevik
Original b/w photos Ålesund Museum
O
le Brude was a student at the local
naval collage and he joined the
Norwegian merchant navy after
graduating and quickly rose in its ranks.
By the age of twenty-four in 1904 he had
become First Mate. Brude had for some time
been thinking of how one could improve
the safety of lifeboats onboard ships. These
were at the time still open boats made of
wood and had changed very little since
the time of sail. He had an idea for a new
design – a fully covered lifeboat - offering
shelter from the open air and the sea. In
addition he felt it should be build of steel, to
be more sturdy and safe. He drew up early
designs, managed to source some funds and
engaged a boatbuilding company to make
a first model. By the late spring of 1904 the
covered lifeboat of steel was finished and
Continued overleaf
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 15
Brude (left) with crew
Brude egg on
shore in USA
Alesund
16 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
Alesund harbour
with warehouses
Art nouveau
decorations
promptly called rather mockingly merchant navy officers; Iver Thoresen, Lars
“The Brude Egg” by the local press. Madsen and Carl Thomas Hagevik Johnsen.
The North Atlantic lay ahead and Brude,
However the enormous tragedy of the
clearly full of youthful bravado, had given
Norwegian steamer “Norge”, which sank
his lifeboat the name “Uræd”, or Fearless.
later that year changed things. Many of
the over six hundred dead has perished What followed was a desperate drawn out
even though they had managed to get five-month journey in the North Atlantic,
onboard the lifeboats. But the high seas where storms, cold and generally rough
and exposure to the elements had been conditions onboard pushed the four men to
too much. The nation asked for something their absolute limit. Having to huddle inside
to be done. Ole Brude saw his chance and the 18 foot steel egg most of the journey
announced to the press that he intended due to the very rough sea, the four men
to sail his revolutionary lifeboat from his endured extremely cramped conditions.
hometown all the way across the North Storm after storm broke over them in a
Atlantic to New York, to prove its safety. seemingly unending manner. By the start
He planned then to exhibited the boat at of November it was clear to them that they
the World Fair in St. Louis. This event, which were not going to make it to New York in
Brude saw as a giant sales opportunity, had time to attend the World Fair. Battered by
opened earlier that year and would carry another storm and with their steel mast
on until the first week of December. This bent and rudder broken, on the 6th of
impossible sounding challenge excited the January 1905, they were finally swept up on
Norwegian newspapers and nation. the shore by the small town of Gloucester,
40 miles north of Boston. Here they were
On the 7th of August 1904 the 18 foot long
received as heros and Ole Brude and his
and 8 feet wide ‘egg’ sailed out of Ålesund
egg-shaped steel lifeboat was a sensation
harbour. Onboard were twenty-four year old
in the American and international press.
Ole Brude and three colleagues and fellow
Continued overleaf
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 17
Alesund museum Brude egg interior
18 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
DEN NORSKE KLUB
MERCHANDISE
Den Norske Klub TIE
We are delighted
to announce
the generation
of a new Den
Norske Klub
tie, which has
been approved
by the Board
and launched
at the recent
17th May dinner.
The members of DNK can now wear their
very own tie. Loosely designed around the
colours of the Flag of Norway, the tie also
features the DNK emblem and is ideal for
all occasions. It is made in the UK from pure
silk and the special label on the reverse
sports the date of the Klub’s foundation,
with images of those cornerstones of
Norwegian culture: a kransekake and a
bottle of aquavit!
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 19
Foto: Ole Walter Jacobsen
Leif J. Olestad
Åndalsnes - Dombås
A trip on the Rauma Railway is a unique information on the scenic sights along the
opportunity to experience one of the most route. Past famous attractions such
spectacular scenic areas in Norway. as Trollveggen and Kylling brigde, the
train will run at reduced speed.
Once aboard the train, just sit back and gaze
out of the train’s large windows and enjoy For more information and to book
the journey through contrasting, wild and tickets, see nsb.no/raumarailway,
magnificent scenery. call +47 815 00 888 or contact a
specialist on Scandinavia.
From 24th May to 24th August the train has
an electronic guiding system that provides
Europe’s most
spectacular
train journeys
ALT FOR
NORGE
Mr Philip Walker
Continued overleaf
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 21
Title page with dedication The following page full with signatures of many
involved
T
he title of the book and its embossed found to have over fifty original autographs of
gold letters will be well known to key members of ‘Forsvarets Overkommando’
all Norwegians, with the motto and department II, the intelligence section of the
symbol of King Haakon VII of Norway, “Alt Norwegian High Command in London during
for Norge” (Everything for Norway). The title the Second World War. The signatures include
page confirms that the book was printed Crown Prince Olaf (on a separate piece of
and published in London during the Second paper laid on to the front pastedown, opposite
World War, to commemorate King Haakon’s the main signatures page), Rangvald Alfred
70th birthday. Over two years earlier the royal Roscher Lund (head of FOII), Knut Alming
family headed by the king and together with of the XU organisation, Kristian Gleditsch,
the Norwegian government, had avoided Finn Nagell (intelligence officer), Special
capture by the Germans during the invasion Operations Executive operatives, and many
of Norway and relocated to England. more. It is an astonishing book, signifying a
Mr Walker, realising the connection to very special occasion, as the signatures on the
Norway and the stamp of ‘High Command front free endpaper were all made in the book
Royal Norwegian Forces’ on one of its pages, on VE Day, the 8th of May 1945, the end of the
contacted the Norwegian Resistance Museum war in Europe. The book (which has earlier
in Oslo. He also contacted Asgeir Ueland, the dedications from 1943 on its title page and on
leading expert on Norway Special Operations the page opposite) was clearly found to be a
Executive (SOE). Another contact in Oslo the perfect object to sign on such a day.
put him in touch with retired lecturer at the Mr Walker got in touch with Den Norske Klub,
Krigsskolen and military historian Lt. Col. hoping to get more help to trace the original
(Ret.) Knut Werner Hagen. The book was owner of this extraordinary book. Together
22 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
Picture page from the book. The top left picture shows delegates having lunch at Den Norske Klub, at the
time based in Norway House, Trafalgar Square.
with the book came a family photograph comments on specific men and women who
album, put together by Eline Jacobena Wiese signed the book would be welcome.”
(born Dahl), who was the married daughter of Should you have any information, please get
the artist Hans Dahl. The photos include many in touch: ken@dennorskeklub.co.uk
fine views of Dahl in his garden with his friend
Mr Philip Walker is the author of the book
and patron, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany
Behind the Lawrence Legend: the Forgotten
over many summers before WW1. In addition Few who Shaped the Arab Revolt, published
a 4-page handwritten letter signed by Hans by Oxford University Press in February 2018.
Dahl was also found.
Mr Walker surmises after some research:
“A probable link between all three of the items
I bought is the name Wiese. Eva Wiese (born in
Bergen, 1917), who worked for the Norwegian
Foreign Office in London and liaised with
Nortraship, is one of the signatures in the
book, and was probably related to the Dahl/
Wiese family of the photo album. If any of
DNK’s members have forebears who were in
or associated with the Norwegian government
in exile in London, or have a particular interest
in SOE and related intelligence issues, I would The stand alone signature of the (at the time)
be very grateful to hear from them. Any Crown Prince of Norway Olav
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 23
Benefit
from our
international
presence
Danske Bank International S.A. is specialized in International
Private Banking. We are a modern bank with deep financial
competences and leading digital solutions.
BEAUTIFUL
BORNEO Text and photos by
Constanse Bowes-Lyon
Continued overleaf
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 25
Kuching a traveller happy and entertained, from the
Flying into Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, BWN or ethnology museum to the Chinese history
Sepinggan International Airport, there are museum, Astana and the Indian mosque,
most of which are best seen on a boat
several way to reach this island depending
traveling up and down the river.
on whether you want to explore the
Malaysian, Indonesian or Bruneian part of
the island. We flew into Kuching which was The Person from the Forest
about an hour’s flight from Singapore. Known as the person from the forest,
this gentle and highly intelligent creature
Landing at Kuching airport, the city itself is only found in the rainforests across
is about a 20 minutes from the airport. Borneo and Sumatra. Although critically
Kuching is the capital and most populous endangered with a population decline of
city in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, and 60% in the last 60 years it’s still possible
has been a trading post in the region. The to encounter them on a walk through the
city became the capital of the kingdom rainforest. Orangutans live in tropical and
of Sarawak after the area was ceded to subtropical broadleaf forest in both the
James Brooke for his efforts in defeating Bornean lowlands and mountains. Fruit
a rebellion. During the leadership of makes up the majority of their diet and due
Charles Brooke the area continued to see to habitat destruction as a result of logging
the construction of a sanitation system, and burning these wonderful creatures have
hospital, fort and prison, most of which become rarer and are currently critically
can be seen today. After the formation of endangered. There are however several
Malaysia in 1963, Kuching remained the conservations centres dotted across the
state capital. As the gateway to the jungle island including Semenggoh Wildlife Centre
and sea, Kuching is a great starting point and Matang Wildlife Centre both in Sarawak
for any traveller looking to explore the as well as Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary in
region. The city offers enough sites to keep Sabah. It has been a lifelong dream to see
26 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
orangutans in the wild so I was ecstatic to from the forest are Danum Valley, Tanjung
finally get the chance. Putting National Park, Tabin Wildlife
Reserve and in the forest stretching
The closest conservation centre to Kuching
alongside the Kinabatangan river. These
and about a thirty minute drive from the
majestic animals are every bit as amazing in
city, is Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. The
real life as we expected and we were lucky
centre has been training and rehabilitating to encounter several on our trek through
orangutans for more than twenty years. the forest. Borneo has so much to offer and
Most of the orangutans there spend their we only just scratched the surface.
days roaming the jungle but returning to
the centre for their twice daily meals. The
extrovert and confident alpha male will eat
first followed by old matriarchs moving
slowly through the tree tops and stop to
inspect who and what is around them. The
young mothers and their whimsical babies
eat last and mostly the scraps left by the
older generation.
The best experience however, is
undoubtedly seeing them on a rainforest
trek. The rainforests are some of the most
varied and last intact in Southeast Asia.
With more than 15000 known plants and
with more than 400 species identified
on the island, the orangutans are one of
several wonders awaiting in the rainforest.
Some of the best places to see the people
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 27
Nordisk Books is an independent
publishing house founded in London
in 2016 with a focus on modern and
contemporary Scandinavian literature.
Northern Lights had the pleasure of
meeting Duncan Lewis, the CEO &
founder of Nordisk Books recently.
NORDISK
BOOKS
Interview with CEO & Founder
Duncan Lewis Text by Cecilia Luras
28 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
a room that was full of books by Philip DNK: If you were to choose three
Roth. Reading ‘American Pastoral’ really authors, who would be your top three
reminded me what I loved about literature picks amongst contemporary and/or
and that has never gone away! I believe
up-and-coming authors?
Carsten Jensen’s ‘Vi, de drunknede’ (‘We,
The Drowned’) was the first proper book Duncan: Tine Høeg, from Denmark, has
that I read in a Scandinavian language and it a strong career ahead of her I think. Her
first novel, ‘Nye rejsende’ has been really
has really stuck with me to this day.
successful in Denmark and has just been
adapted to the stage. I was absolutely
DNK: Why the emphasis on Nordic captivated by Elin Willows’ (Swedish, lives
non-crime fiction? in Finland) début novel ‘Inlandet’ about a
Duncan: I think there are some amazing young woman moving to a tiny village in
young authors doing brilliant things with the far north of Sweden to live with her
literary form in the Nordic countries boyfriend, and stubbornly remaining even
and that’s really exciting to me as a after he quickly breaks up with her. And of
publisher. In the UK, there is an enormous course the Norwegian author, Gine Cornelia
choice of crime thrillers from the Nordic Pedersen, whose first book we have just
countries available in bookshops, but a published (‘Zero’) and whose third novel
has just come out in Norway (‘Vår i det
notable absence of much from the more
hinsidige’). She has plenty more up her
linguistically adventurous end of the
sleeves!
spectrum, aside from the now ubiquitous
Knausgårds and, if you’re lucky, a bit of Amongst the more traditional authors, and
Dorthe Nors, Halldór Laxness etc. This aside from the timeless classical Norwegian
seemed to me to be a little odd, as there is authors Ibsen and Hamsun, I love Halldór
clearly far more to the Nordic literary canon Laxness for his unusual twists of language,
Arto Paasilinna just because ‘Year of the
than crime writing.
Continued overleaf
www.dennorskeklub.co.uk 29
the outside of my tent in Svalbard in the
midnight sun in July about ten years ago.
Oh, and driving from Tromsø to Åre last
year and realising how easy it is to maintain
a frictionless EU border… Ahem.
30 www.dennorskeklub.co.uk
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