“Papayapassionen” [The Passion of the Papaya]

My career started in 1987 with the novel ”Papayapassionen” [The Passion of the Papaya] (1987)

The book was inspired by this short paragraph that could be read on the front page of Danish newspaper Politiken on November 4. 1984 :

”Chained to a tree for 17 years. The police in Venezuela liberated a 21 year old man Friday, who had been chained to a tree for 17 years of his life. According to sources in the capital of Venezuela, Caracas, the young mal-nourished man was immediately sent to a hospital to recuperate. As a 4 year old he was put in the care of his grandmother who felt she wasn’t able to handle him.

Reviews

“Impressive danish first novel. …a terrifically good story, done with convincing skill….” Poul Borum, Ekstra Bladet 25/11 1987

“There is something differently courageous and wonderfully ambitious about the first novel of 22 year old Sanne Bjerg.” Carsten Jensen, Det Fri Aktuelt 3/12 1987

“The book is exceedingly well-written, and people as well as nature are as vivid as if we were circling around this papaya-tree ourselves.”Annelise Vestergaard, Jyllandsposten, november 1987