Kvinden i den lilla nederdel

The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura is a bestselling, prizewinning psychological novel about obsession and loneliness. The story follows the Woman in the Purple Skirt, who is routinely observed by an unnamed narrator, the Woman in the Yellow Cardigan. Both women are solitary and work low-wage jobs, yet the Woman in the Yellow Cardigan becomes fixated on the other, eventually manipulating her into a job as a hotel housekeeper where she works.

Through a deadpan and unsettling style, Imamura explores themes of envy, invisibility, and the vulnerability of unmarried women. This voyeuristic narrative reveals a profound desire for recognition and the darker side of wanting to be seen.

Published in Denmark by Forlaget Korridor and translated by Mette Holm.