Detta fantastiska mail kan jag omöjligt behålla för mig själv.
En ingenjör på vattenverket i Finistère, ansvarig för en årsrapport vars titel på svenska blir Priset på vatten i Finistère, har råkat läsa min bok med samma namn och vill intervjua mig.

Dear Mrs Malmsten,
I take the liberty of writing to you for –at least- four reasons. First of all, I am interested in books and literature and, by the way, I had the opportunity of reading “The price of water in Finistère” in an English copy that I borrowed from a British friend of mine. I must say I enjoyed your way of writing.

Secondly, I am a Finisterian concerned by the issue of identity or, should I say, identities and what you experienced in your new country –our common country now, it seems- interested me since I spent a few years abroad a quarter of century ago. The third reason, in a more funny way, is that, by trade, I am an environmental engineer working for an agency of the Conseil général du Finistère, where the water question, quite ironically, is significant: we publish an annual report called… “Le prix de l’eau en Finistère”.

The fourth reason for my writing is that I am in charge of writing –for free- articles for a little trimestrial magazine edited by the Conseil général du Finistère (“Pluriel”, 3000 copies) on subjects dealing with our little peninsular corner. I was just wondering whether I could get in touch with you in the next months and, maybe, have you shortly interviewed so that “Finistériens” can know about you.

I can understand that you might prefer living undisturbed in Finistère, I can also understand that the idea of being presented by an “amateur” in our rather confidential “Pluriel” is certainly not your main concern. Anyway, whenever you might think that an interview could be possible, we (my colleagues of the editorial staff and myself) would be very much honoured.

Recevez, Madame, mes meilleures salutations.
xxxx

Pôle ressources-conseil en environnement
Comité de rédaction de « Pluriel »
Conseil général du Finistère

P.S.: I wrote in English since I think you seem to use it more easily than French. Veuillez m’excuser si je me suis trompé (je serais très heureux de m’être trompé).

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Ce message a ete scanne par l’anti-virus du Conseil General du Finistere.
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Att vattenmannen skriver på engelska är ett obegripligt mirakel i klass med den obefläckade avlelsen. Franska människor saknar som bekant den gen som styr inlärning av främmande språk.