S03 E02 Sven Axelrad

Loading player...
Sven Axelrad is a Durban-based writer whose debut novel Buried Treasure took the South African literary world by storm in 2023.

Sven joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how he balances his day job as an accountant with the demands of his lively literary imagination. He talks about the influence of the South American magical realists on his work and discusses the significance of the Bob Dylan lyrics that appear at the start of each chapter of his book.

Fiona and Gail disagree about whether Buried Treasure is a light book with dark moments or a dark book with light moments. They also debate the significance of the dog named God. Sven reveals how many stories he envisions for his fictional town of Vivo and gives listeners inside information about his upcoming novel God’s Pocket.

For more details about the books, movies, series, and podcasts that are discussed on the show, sign up here for our weekly newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r4a9m8
25 Mar 2024 English South Africa Books · Arts

Other recent episodes

S07 E09 Zakes Mda

Zakes Mda is one of South Africa's best known and most awarded writers. He is a novelist, playwright, short story writer, and painter. A Professor Emeritus of English at Ohio University, Zakes now lives and works in Johannesburg. He joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how his…
18 May 1 hr 17 min

S07 E08 Nadia Davids

Nadia Davids is an award-winning playwright, novelist, and short story writer. She won the Caine Prize in 2024 for her short story 'Bridling'. Her latest novel CAPE FEVER has been released to great acclaim, published by Simon & Schuster. Nadia joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how…
11 May 1 hr 01 min

S07 E07 Damon Galgut

Damon Galgut is one of South Africa's most distinguished writers. He won the Booker Prize in 2021 for The Promise, which was his third novel to be shortlisted for the award. Damon joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about how writing seems to become more difficult as the…
4 May 1 hr 14 min

S07 E06 Marguerite Poland

Marguerite Poland is one of South Africa's most decorated authors, having won the Percy Fitzpatrick Award numerous times, as well as the Order of Ikamang for lifetime achievement. Her career spans many decades and includes books for children, works of non-fiction, and several critically acclaimed novels for adults. Marguerite joins…
27 Apr 1 hr 12 min

S07 E05 David Cornwell

David Cornwell is the author of the critically acclaimed novel HELL OF A COUNTRY, which has been making waves since its release date. David joins Fiona Snyckers and Gail Schimmel to talk about the challenges of writing a fictional reimagining of real-life events and how he made his creative choices…
20 Apr 1 hr 07 min