Bragi Ólafsson: The Ambassador

“To Minsk,” says Liliya, and they both smile. “To Mommy’s apartment block.”

And they down their drinks.

Grateful thanks to all at Open Letter, especially Chad Post, who has the best ideas, and E.J. Van Lanen, whose eagle-eyed attention made this a better translation. Thanks to Bragi Ólafsson for patience, enthusiasm, and volcano trips. Thanks to David Megathlin, Alyssa McDonald, and Lisa Levinson, early adventurers in Iceland(ic), and to Richard North, who pointed me towards and first taught me about Icelandic language and literature. Thanks to Jess, for encouraging and supporting me in this, as in all things. Lastly, abiding gratitude to my parents, Brian and Heather Smith, thanks to whom I grew up among many languages.

Bragi Ólafsson was born in Reykjavik and is the author of several books of poetry, short stories, and four novels, including Party Games , for which he received the DV Cultural Prize in 2004. The Ambassador was a finalist for the 2008 Nordic Literature Prize and received the Icelandic Bookseller’s Award as best novel of the year. He is also a founder of the publishing company Smekkleysa (Bad Taste), and has translated Paul Auster’s City of Glass into Icelandic.

Lytton Smith was born in Galleywood, England, and lives in New York City, where he is a founding member of Blind Tiger Poetry, a group which aims to find innovative ways to promote contemporary poetry. His book, The All-Purpose Magical Tent was selected by Terrance Hayes for the Nightboat Prize. His poems and reviews have appeared in American Letters & Commentary, The Atlantic, The Believer, Boston Review, Tin House, Verse , and the anthology All That Mighty Heart: London Poems .