Nordic Council Literature Prize

2025-10-21T10:29:46Z

152.115.140.82:

{{Short description|Literary award of the Nordic Council}}
{{Infobox award
| name = Nordic Council Literature Prize
| image =
| imagesize =
| awarded_for = "a work of imaginative literature written in one of the Nordic languages"
| presenter = [[Nordic Council]]
| date = Annual, winner announced in the spring
| country = [[Nordic countries]]
| reward = [[Danish krone|DKK]] 350,000
| year = 1962
}}
The '''Nordic Council Literature Prize''' is awarded for a work of literature written in one of the languages of the [[Nordic countries]], that meets "high literary and artistic standards".<ref name="nc"/> Established in 1962, the prize is awarded every year, and is worth 350,000 [[Danish krone]]r (2008).<ref name="nc"/> Eligible works are typically novels, plays, collections of poetry, short stories or essays, or other works that were published for the first time during the last four years, or in the case of works written in [[Danish language|Danish]], [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]], or [[Swedish language|Swedish]], within the last two years. The prize is one of the most prestigious awards that Nordic authors can win.

The winner is chosen by an [[adjudication]] committee appointed by the [[Nordic Council]]. The committee consists of ten members, two each from [[Denmark]], [[Finland]], [[Iceland]], [[Norway]] and [[Sweden]]. The committee members are generally experts in their own country's literature, as well as their neighbouring countries.<ref name="nc"/> In addition to the regular members, additional members may be added to the committee if works are nominated from [[Åland]], the [[Faroe Island]]s, [[Greenland]] or the [[Sami languages|Sami language]] area. Apart from the monetary award, the intent of the prize is also to "increase interest in the literature of neighbouring countries as well in Nordic cultural fellowship".<ref name="nc">{{cite web|url=http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council/the-nordic-council-prizes/nordisk-raads-litteraturpris/about-the-literature-prize|title=About the Literature Prize|work=norden.org|publisher=[[Nordic Council]]|access-date=2011-11-13|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907094022/http://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council/the-nordic-council-prizes/nordisk-raads-litteraturpris/about-the-literature-prize|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-07}}</ref>

== Committee members as of 2025 ==
As of 2025 the jury consists of the following proper elected members<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.norden.org/no/taxonomy/term/1086|title=Bedømmelseskomitéen for Nordisk Råds Litteraturpris - Nordisk samarbeid|website=www.norden.org}}</ref>
*[[Stig Hansén]] (Sweden)
*[[Pia Ingström]] (Finland)
*[[Jón Yngvi Jóhannsson]] (Iceland)
*[[Outi Menna]] (Finland)
*[[Kathrine Nedrejord]] (Norway)
*[[Karin Nykvist]] (Sweden)
*[[Gro Frank Rasmussen]] (Denmark)
*[[Erik Skyum-Nielsen]] (Denmark)
*[[Soffía Auður Birgisdóttir]] (Iceland)
*[[Bjørn Sortland]] (Norway)

Additionally the jury includes deputy members, appointed members and ex officio members.

== List of winners ==
{{see also|List of Nordic Council's Literature Prize winners and nominees}}
[[File:Eyvind.JPG|thumb|[[Eyvind Johnson]], 1962]]
[[File:Faroe stamp 164 william heinesen.jpg|thumb|[[William Heinesen]], 1965]]
[[File:Kjartan Flogstad.jpg|thumb|[[Kjartan Fløgstad]], 1978]]
[[File:W13 Einar Már Gudmundsson speaker 0477.JPG|thumb|[[Einar Már Guðmundsson]], 1995]]
[[File:Sofia Oksanen, vinnare av Nordiska radets litteraturpris 2010.jpg|thumb|[[Sofi Oksanen]], 2010]]

The following is a complete list of recipients of the Nordic Council Literature Prize:<ref name="winners">{{cite web |url=https://www.norden.org/en/literatureprize |title=The winners — Nordic Council Literature Prize |work=norden.org |publisher=[[Nordic Council]] |access-date=5 January 2019}}</ref>

{| class="sortable wikitable"
|-
! Year !! English title !! Original title !! Author !! Country !! Original Language || Ref
|-
|align=center| 1962 || ''[[The Days of His Grace]]'' || ''Hans nådes tid'' || {{sortname|Eyvind|Johnson}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1963 || ''[[Under the North Star|Under the North Star 3: Reconciliation]]'' || ''Täällä Pohjantähden alla 3'' || {{sortname|Väinö|Linna||Linna, Vaino}} || Finland || [[Finnish_language|Finnish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1964 || ''[[The Ice Palace (novel)|The Ice Palace]]'' || ''Is-slottet'' || {{sortname|Tarjei|Vesaas}} || Norway || [[Norwegian_language| Norwegian]] ||
|-
|rowspan=2 align=center| 1965 || ''[[From Hell to Paradise (book)|From Hell to Paradise]]'' || ''Från Helvetet till Paradiset'' || {{sortname|Olof|Lagercrantz}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
| ''[[The Good Hope (novel)|The Good Hope]]'' || ''Det gode Håb'' || {{sortname|William|Heinesen}} || Faroe Islands || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1966 || ''[[Diwan on the Prince of Emgion]]'' || ''Dīwān över Fursten av Emgión'' || {{sortname|Gunnar|Ekelöf||Ekelof, Gunnar}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1967 || ''[[Nye noveller]]'' || ''Nye noveller'' || {{sortname|Johan|Borgen}} || Norway || [[Norwegian_language| Norwegian]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1968 || ''[[Flight of the Eagle (novel)|Flight of the Eagle]]'' || ''Ingenjör Andrées luftfärd'' || {{sortname|Per Olof|Sundman}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1969 || ''[[The Legionnaires]]'' || ''Legionärerna'' || {{sortname|Per Olov|Enquist}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1970 || ''[[Anna, I, Anna]]'' || ''Anna, jeg, Anna'' || {{sortname|Klaus|Rifbjerg}} || Denmark || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1971 || ''[[Coast of Slaves]]'', '' [[Ships of Slaves]]'' and ''[[Islands of Slaves]]'' || ''Slavernes kyst'', ''Slavernes skibe'' and ''Slavernes øer'' || {{sortname|Thorkild|Hansen}} || Denmark || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1972 || ''[[Sju ord på tunnelbanan]]'' || ''Sju ord på tunnelbanan'' || {{sortname|Karl|Vennberg}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1973 || ''[[Kersantin poika]]'' || ''Kersantin poika'' || {{sortname|Veijo|Meri}} || Finland || [[Finnish_language|Finnish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1974 || ''[[Uden mål – og med]]'' || ''Uden mål – og med'' || {{sortname|Villy|Sørensen||Sorensen, Villy}} || Denmark || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1975 || ''[[Siinä näkijä missä tekijä]]'' || ''Siinä näkijä missä tekijä'' || {{sortname|Hannu|Salama}} || Finland || [[Finnish_language|Finnish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1976 || ''[[Að laufferjum]]'' and ''[[Að brunnum]]'' || ''Að laufferjum'' and ''Að brunnum'' || {{sortname|Ólafur Jóhann|Sigurðsson||Sigurdsson, Olafur Johann}} || Iceland || [[Icelandic_language|Icelandic]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1977 || ''[[I de mörka rummen, i de ljusa]]'' || ''I de mörka rummen, i de ljusa'' || {{sortname|Bo|Carpelan}} || Finland || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1978 || ''[[Dalen Portland (novel)|Dalen Portland]]'' || ''Dalen Portland'' || {{sortname|Kjartan|Fløgstad||Flogstad, Kjartan}} || Norway || [[Norwegian_language| Norwegian]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1979 || ''[[Pubertet]]'' || ''Pubertet'' || {{sortname|Ivar|Lo-Johansson}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1980 || ''[[Vredens barn]]'' || ''Vredens barn'' || {{sortname|Sara|Lidman}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1981 || ''[[Hauströkkrið yfir mér]]'' || ''Hauströkkrið yfir mér'' || {{sortname|Snorri|Hjartarson}} || Iceland || [[Icelandic_language|Icelandic]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1982 || ''[[Samuels bok]]'' || ''Samuels bok'' || {{sortname|Sven|Delblanc}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1983 || ''[[Om fjorten dage]]'' || ''Om fjorten dage'' || {{sortname|Peter|Seeberg}} || Denmark || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1984 || ''[[The Christmas Oratorio]]'' || ''Juloratoriet'' || {{sortname|Göran|Tunström||Tunstrom, Goran}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1985 || ''[[A Day in Ostrobothnia]]'' || ''Pohjanmaa'' || {{sortname|Antti|Tuuri}} || Finland || [[Finnish_language|Finnish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1986 || ''[[Líkasum]]'' || ''Líkasum'' || {{sortname|Rói|Patursson||Patursson, Roi}} || Faroe Islands || [[Faroese_language|Faroese]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1987 || ''[[Hudløs himmel]]'' || ''Hudløs himmel'' || {{sortname|Herbjørg|Wassmo||Wassmo, Hebjorg}} || Norway || [[Norwegian_language| Norwegian]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1988 || ''[[Justice Undone]]'' || ''Grámosinn glóir'' || {{sortname|Thor|Vilhjálmsson||Vilhjamarsson, Thor}} || Iceland || [[Icelandic_language|Icelandic]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1989 || ''[[Roman 1987]]'' || ''Roman 1987'' || {{sortname|Dag|Solstad}} || Norway || [[Norwegian_language| Norwegian]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1990 || ''[[For the Living and the Dead]]'' || ''För levande och döda'' || {{sortname|Tomas|Tranströmer||Transtromer, Tomas}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1991 || ''[[The Sun, My Father]]'' || ''Beaivi, áhčážan'' || {{sortname|Nils-Aslak|Valkeapää||Valkeapaa, Nils-Aslak}} || [[Sápmi]] / Finland || [[Northern Sámi]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1992 || ''[[Night Watch (Sigurðardóttir novel)|Night Watch]]'' || ''Meðan nóttin líður'' || {{sortname|Fríða Á.|Sigurðardóttir||Sigurdardottir, Frida A,}} || Iceland || [[Icelandic_language|Icelandic]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1993 || ''[[Byen og verden]]'' || ''Byen og verden'' || {{sortname|Peer|Hultberg}} || Denmark || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1994 || ''[[Blackwater (novel)|Blackwater]]'' || ''Händelser vid vatten'' || {{sortname|Kerstin|Ekman}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1995 || ''[[Angels of the Universe (novel)|Angels of the Universe]]'' || ''Englar alheimsins'' || {{sortname|Einar Már|Guðmundsson||Gudmundsson, Einar Mar}} || Iceland || [[Icelandic_language|Icelandic]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1996 || ''[[Hva skal vi gjøre i dag og andre noveller]]'' || ''Hva skal vi gjøre i dag og andre noveller'' || {{sortname|Øystein|Lønn||Lonn, Oystein}} || Norway || [[Norwegian_language| Norwegian]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1997 || ''[[Bang. En roman om Herman Bang]]'' || ''Bang. En roman om Herman Bang'' || {{sortname|Dorrit|Willumsen}} || Denmark || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1998 || ''[[After Having Spent a Night Among Horses]]'' || ''Efter att ha tillbringat en natt bland hästar'' || {{sortname|Tua|Forsström||Forsstrom, Tua}} || Finland || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 1999 || ''[[Dronningeporten|Queen's Gate]]'' || ''Dronningeporten'' || {{sortname|Pia|Tafdrup}} || Denmark || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2000 || ''[[Drømmebroer]]'' || ''Drømmebroer'' || {{sortname|Henrik|Nordbrandt}} || Denmark || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2001 || ''[[The Discoverer]]'' || ''Oppdageren'' || {{sortname|Jan|Kjærstad||Kjaerstad, Jan}} || Norway || [[Norwegian_language| Norwegian]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2002 || ''[[The Half Brother]]'' || ''Halvbroren'' || {{sortname|Lars|Saabye Christensen}} || Norway || [[Norwegian_language| Norwegian]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2003 || ''[[Revbensstäderna]]'' || ''Revbensstäderna'' || {{sortname|Eva|Ström||Strom, Eva}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2004 || ''[[Juoksuhaudantie]]'' || ''Juoksuhaudantie'' || {{sortname|Kari|Hotakainen}} || Finland || [[Finnish_language|Finnish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2005 || ''[[The Blue Fox (novel)|The Blue Fox]]'' || ''Skugga-Baldur'' || {{sort|Sjon|[[Sjón]]}} || Iceland || [[Icelandic_language|Icelandic]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2006 || ''[[The Ocean (poetry collection)|The Ocean]]'' || ''Oceanen'' || {{sortname|Göran|Sonnevi||Sonnevi, Goran}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2007 || ''[[Drömfakulteten]]'' || ''Drömfakulteten'' || {{sortname|Sara|Stridsberg}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2008 || ''[[Baboon (short story collection)|Baboon]]'' || ''Bavian'' || {{sortname|Naja Marie|Aidt}} || Denmark || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2009 || ''[[I Curse the River of Time]]'' || ''Jeg forbanner tidens elv'' || {{sortname|Per|Petterson}} || Norway || [[Norwegian_language| Norwegian]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2010 || ''[[Purge (novel)|Purge]]'' || ''Puhdistus'' || {{sortname|Sofi|Oksanen}} || Finland || [[Finnish_language|Finnish]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2011 || ''[[Between the Trees (short story collection)|Between the Trees]]'' || ''Milli trjánna'' || {{sortname|Gyrðir|Elíasson||Eliasson, Gyrdir}} || Iceland || [[Icelandic_language|Icelandic]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2012 || ''[[Days in the History of Silence]]'' || ''Dager i stillhetens historie'' || {{sortname|Merethe|Lindstrøm||Lindstrom, Merethe}} || Norway || [[Norwegian_language| Norwegian]] ||
|-
|align=center| 2013 || ''[[The Prophets of Eternal Fjord]]'' || ''Profeterne fra Evighedsfjorden'' || {{sortname|Kim|Leine}} || Denmark || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||align=center| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://politiken.dk/kultur/boger/ECE2118119/dansker-faar-nordisk-raads-litteraturpris/|title=Dansker får Nordisk Råds Litteraturpris|website=politiken.dk|access-date=21 April 2018}}</ref>
|-
|align=center| 2014 || ''[[Mirage 38]]'' || ''Hägring 38'' || {{sortname|Kjell|Westö||Westo, Kjell}} || Finland || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||align=center| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norden.org/da/nordisk-raad/nordisk-raads-priser/nordisk-raads-litteraturpris|title=Nordisk Råds litteraturpris — Nordisk samarbejde|website=www.norden.org|access-date=21 April 2018}}</ref>
|-
|align=center| 2015 || ''[[Andvake (novella)|Andvake]]'', ''[[Olavs draumar]]'' and ''[[Kveldsvævd]]'' || ''Andvake'', ''Olavs draumar'' and ''Kveldsvævd'' || [[Jon Fosse]] || Norway || [[Norwegian_language| Norwegian]] ||align=center| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nrk.no/kultur/fosse-vant-nordisk-rads-litteraturpris-1.12624644|title=Fosse vant Nordisk råds litteraturpris|last=NRK|website=nrk.no|access-date=21 April 2018}}</ref>
|-
|align=center| 2016 || ''Songs and Formulae'' || ''Sånger och formler'' || [[Katarina Frostenson]] || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||align=center| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council/nordic-council-prizes/nordisk-raads-litteraturpris/winner-of-the-nordic-council-literature-prize-2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227084905/https://www.norden.org/en/nordic-council/nordic-council-prizes/nordisk-raads-litteraturpris/winner-of-the-nordic-council-literature-prize-2016|archive-date=27 December 2016|title=Winner of the Nordic Council Literature Prize 2016 — Nordic cooperation|date=27 December 2016|access-date=21 April 2018}}</ref>
|-
|align=center| 2017 || ''Memories of Love'' || ''Erindring om kærligheden'' || {{sortname|Kirsten|Thorup}} || Denmark || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||align=center| <ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/udland/overvaeldet-kirsten-thorup-takker-nordisk-litteraturpris | title = Overvældet Kirsten Thorup takker for nordisk litteraturpris | publisher = DR | date = 1 November 2017 | access-date = 2 November 2017 | agency = Ritzau }}</ref>
|-
|align=center| 2018 || ''[[Hotel Silence]]'' || ''Ör'' || {{sortname|Auður Ava|Ólafsdóttir}} || Iceland || [[Icelandic_language|Icelandic]] ||align=center| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.norden.org/en/news/nordic-council-literature-prize-2018-goes-audur-ava-olafsdottir |title=The Nordic Council Literature Prize 2018 goes to Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir |date=2018 |website=norden.org |access-date=5 January 2019}}</ref>
|-
|align=center| 2019 || ''After the Sun'' || ''Efter Solen'' || {{sortname|Jonas|Eika}} || Denmark || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||align=center| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.norden.org/en/nyhed/jonas-eika-has-won-2019-nordic-council-literature-prize|title=Jonas Eika has won the 2019 Nordic Council Literature Prize | Nordic cooperation|website=www.norden.org}}</ref>
|-
|align=center| 2020 || ''Who killed Bambi?'' || ''Vem dödade bambi?'' || {{sortname|Monika|Fagerholm }} || Finland || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||align=center| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.norden.org/en/news/monika-fagerholm-wins-2020-nordic-council-literature-prize|title=Monika Fagerholm wins the 2020 Nordic Council Literature Prize | Nordic cooperation|website=www.norden.org}}</ref>
|-
|align=center| 2021 || ''Flower Valley'' || ''Naasuliardarpi'' || {{sortname|Niviaq|Korneliussen}} || Greenland || [[Greenlandic_language|Greenlandic]] ||align=center| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.norden.org/en/news/niviaq-korneliussen-wins-2021-nordic-council-literature-prize|title=Niviaq Korneliussen wins the 2021 Nordic Council Literature Prize|website=www.norden.org}}</ref>
|-
|align=center| 2022 || ''On the Calculation of Volume I'', ''II'' and ''III'' || ''Om udregning af rumfang I'', ''II'' and ''III'' || {{sortname|Solvej|Balle}} || Denmark || [[Danish_language|Danish]] ||align=center| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.norden.org/en/nominee/winner-2022-nordic-council-literature-prize|title=The 2022 Nordic Council Literature Prize goes to "Om udregning af rumfang I, II og III" by Solvej Balle from Denmark.|website=norden.org}}</ref>
|-
|align=center| 2023 ||'' Remember Us to Life'' || ''Ihågkom oss till liv'' || {{sortname|Joanna|Rubin Dranger}} || Sweden || [[Swedish_language|Swedish]] ||align=center| <ref>{{Cite web |title=Joanna Rubin Dranger wins nordic council literature prize 2023 |url=https://www.norden.org/en/news/joanna-rubin-dranger-wins-nordic-council-literature-prize-2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231031202934/https://www.norden.org/en/news/joanna-rubin-dranger-wins-nordic-council-literature-prize-2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=October 31, 2023 |website=norden.org}}</ref>
|-
| align="center" |2024
|''Walking Man''
|''Fars rygg''
|[[Niels Fredrik Dahl]]
|Norway
|[[Norwegian_language| Norwegian]]
| align="center" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winner of the 2024 Nordic Council Literature Prize {{!}} Nordic cooperation |url=https://www.norden.org/en/nominee/winner-2024-nordic-council-literature-prize |access-date=2025-09-14 |website=www.norden.org |language=en}}</ref>

|-
| align="center" |2025
|''Black Orchid''
|''Svørt orkidé''
|[[Vónbjørt Vang]]
|Faroe Islands
|[[Faroese_language| Faroese]]
| align="center" |<ref>{{Cite web |title=Winner of the 2025 Nordic Council Literature Prize {{!}} Nordic cooperation |url=https://www.norden.org/en/nominee/winner-2025-nordic-council-literature-prize |access-date=2025-10-21 |website=www.norden.org |language=en}}</ref>

|}

== References ==
{{Portal|Children and Young Adult Literature|Denmark|Finland|Faroe Islands|Iceland|Norway|Sweden}}
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.norden.org/en/literatureprize Official website]

{{Nordic Council prizes}}
{{The Nordic Council's Literature Prize}}

[[Category:Nordic Council prizes]]
[[Category:Danish literary awards]]
[[Category:Nordic literary awards]]
[[Category:Awards established in 1962]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Nordic Council Literature Prize