Torbjørn Færøvik
This book takes you to the four Buddhist countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma, from the greenest hills where the magnificent temples sparkle to the fragrance from the incense which lingers gently above the rooftops. Buddha preached the message of mercifulness. But like many others these countries have a past riddled with war and violence. And they are still struggling with the legacy of the past. The contrast between Buddha’s teachings and real life is often strikingly major. And yet, to travel through these countries is a real pleasure. You will encounter people and landscapes and remember them until your dying day. The journey starts in the noble, golden city of Hanoi and finishes in the far north in Burma, in the legendary Mandalay.
Erlend Loe / Petter Amundsen
Who was Shakespeare really? What happened to his manuscripts? And what has this got to do with Oak Island – the treasure island? Erlend Loe has set out into unfamiliar territory. He has met an ordinary Norwegian organist who claims to have the key to one of the greatest treasures the world has ever seen. This treasure hunt is closely connected to the surroundings around William Shakespeare, and the main lead is found in the legendary First Folio edition of the master’s works. Shakespeare is a door to a hidden universe of secret pacts, elaborate code-breaking and ancient symbols. The resting-place for the same priory treasure which is being searched for in The Da Vinci Code, is probably located. We meet a down-to-earth Erlend Loe who at the beginning is sceptical to the claims made by the organist, but as the organist carefully outlines his theories, Loe bursts out, "This is staggering! There is absolutely no doubt about it. Discovery Channel – eat your heart out." If the organist is right, then our understanding of world history must change. Erlend Loe (1969–) is one of Norway's most popular authors.