YAHYA HASSAN 2

YAHYA HASSAN 2 is a new and highly personal poetry collection from Yahya Hassan. In 59 poems Hassan tells his story: from his debut aged eighteen, his life as a “trophy Paki” with police protection, until the day he is involved in a wild car chase, caught by the police, mprisoned and declared a “psychosis Paki”, with nowhere to go, nowhere to live. His poems explore feelings of doubt, breakdown, anger, frustration and loneliness. His poetry is about violence, the craziness of the world and the inner self; there is a yearning for love and ever elusive intimacy. 

About the author 

When he was just 18 years old the Danish/ Palestinian poet Yahya Hassan (b. 1995) caused quite a stir in Denmark. Published in 2013, Yahya
Hassan’s debut collection, simply entitled YAHYA HASSAN, was described as ”a profound literary event” written by ”a talent beyond the usual.” With more than 130.000 copies sold, Hassan’s was the best-selling literary debut in Danish history. His writing has caused a furore in political debate on immigration – both in Denmark and abroad. In addition to several death threats, his writing has earned Hassan a number of prestigious Danish literary awards.

Text translated by Lin Falk van Rooyen