Nordic Literature for Adults and Children in the United Kingdom, 1950–2010: A Bibliographical Survey

Abstract

Nordic Noir is now an established British literary genre, fuelled by numerous Nordic TV series shown on terrestrial and internet networks and more recently supplemented by British enthusiasm for Nordic design, food and history. This article examines the extent and depth of Nordic fiction for adults and children published prior to this point of popularity. Firstly, relevant bibliographical sources and extant bibliographical research are both identified. Through detailed analysis of the _British National Bibliography_ for the period 1950-2010, the precise parameters of the translated corpus are then revealed, including the distribution of translations within each Nordic country for adult and children’s fiction. The most popular authors, titles and series for both genres are highlighted. Also explored across the time frame are the British publishing houses producing Nordic literature in translation as well as the translators themselves. Finally, publishing trends across the sixty year period are identified, with peaks and troughs clearly evident but contrasting sharply when adult and children’s fiction are compared. _This article was updated in July 2020 to clarify that the journal_ Scandinavica _was first published in 1962 by Academic Press._