A set of books presents 27 short stories of EU member state.

Do you want to get the feel of life in European cities?

Purchasing an air ticket to Europe would be one way, but for those who can't, a set of books titled "Europe, Fascinating Stories," might help.

Spearheaded by Swedish Ambassador Lars Vargo, who is a poet himself, the books were published last week.

What makes the books unique is that it contains one short story from each of the 27 member countries of the European Union, including countries that have no diplomatic mission office in Korea.

Vargo said in the preface: "European cooperation is based on common values, such as democracy and respect for human rights, but it is also from the diversity and the differences that still remain that Europe gets much of its present vitality and strength."

The authors are Maru Bambonaki from Greece, Sanneke van Hassel from the Netherlands, Naja Marie Aidt from Denmark, Ingo Schulze from Germany, Inga Abele from Latvia, Bogdan Suceava from Romania, Guy Helminger from Luxemburg, Laura Sintija Cerniauskaite from Lithuania, Katryna Storace from Malta, Tom Naegels from Belgium, Nikolai Stoyanov from Bulgaria, Hans Gunnarsson from Sweden, Javier Montes from Spain, Denisa Fulmekova from Slovakia, Miha Mazzini from Slovenia, Sorcha de Brun from Ireland, Jan Kaus from Estonia, Zadie Smith from the United Kingdom, Vladmir Nikiforov from Austria, Antonio Tabucchi from Italy, Jan Balaban from the Czech Republic, Gur Genc from Cyprus, Jose Rico Direitinho from Portugal, Anna Gavalda from France, Katarzyna Sowula from Poland, Leena Krohn from Finland and Korosi Zoltan from Hungary.

Although Vargo seems to get all the credit, he said, "This book is the result of discussions I had with the late Spanish Ambassador Delfin Colome, when we created the Seoul Literary Society in 2006." Colome passed away one and a half years ago in Korea.

Vargo came up with the idea and Colome came up with the theme "Life in European cities."

"I would like to dedicate this book to the memory of Ambassador Colome, while also expressing my gratitude to other EU colleagues in Seoul," who were involved in selecting the author and story, he said.

For Sweden, there's no better time to celebrate the publication of the books than now.

The country is currently holding the presidency of the EU, which will be transferred to Spain next January.

Minumsa is the publisher, and each book is priced at 12,000 won.

skim@koreatimes.co.kr