Faber swoops for ‘timely' debut novel from Ísberg

Faber & Faber has swooped for The Mark, the “polyphonic novel” by Icelandic novelist Fríða Ísberg amid a clamour for rights around the world. 

Emmie Francis, commissioning editor, bought UK, Commonwealth and audio rights from Laurence Laluyaux at RCW. Penny Hueston at Text Publishing acquired ANZ rights. The Mark, translated by Larissa Kyzer, will be published August 2023. International rights have been sold in 14 territories.

The publisher said: “The Mark is a polyphonic novel set in Reykjavík in the near-future, a society divided by a development in social technology—a diagnostic tool called The Empathy Test that measures compassion or amorality. In less than two months, a national referendum will determine whether ‘marking’ will become compulsory. Four main characters face dilemmas around their agency and autonomy while navigating everyday desires and duties, and the dawn of irreversible changes in healthcare ethics, socioeconomic stability and the cultural fabric lay bare the balance of their loyalties and conflicts”.  

Francis said: “A debut novel of imperatively urgent big ideas imbued with atmospheric power, The Mark heralds the English-language arrival of what I am sure will be dynamic, boundary-breaking literary trajectory: Fríða Ísberg is firmly on course to become internationally known as a chronicler of our times.”  

Ísberg added: “I have been following Faber’s list since I was in my teens, here in Reykjavík – both poetry and fiction – so when I was 22 years old and applying for internships in London I wrote a long sentimental cover letter to Faber. So imagine my joy when I found out they wanted to publish The Mark – I am humbled and honoured and above all: very, very happy.”