Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, Wins Nordic Council's Literature Prize

Hello Gentle Reader,

The Nordic Council’s Prize for Literature is such a quiet award; one is forgiven for not realizing it had been taking place. Generally speaking the Nordic Council’s Literature Prize is overshadowed by the Nobel Prize for Literature, in early October, and as the world reacts and responds to the winner; quietly in the peripherals the Nordic Council Prize names its winner for the year. Often nicknamed ‘The Little Nobel,’ the Nodic Council’s Literature Prize is awarded annually to a writer hailing from one of the Nordic nations (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland) as well as other regional areas and principalities (Greenland, the Faroe Islands, and Åland Islands) as well as linguistic regions such as the Sami Language region, which includes the northern regions of: Norway, Sweden, Finland and North-West Russia.

The inaugural award was first given to, Eyvind Johnson and his famous novel: “The Days of His Grace,” in 1962. At the time Eyvind Johnson was a revered and renowned groundbreaking modernist Swedish writer. Though he is perhaps most notoriously remembered for the Nobel Prize for Literature debacle of 1974, where Eyvind Johnson was awarded the prize alongside Harry Martinson—both writers were members of the Swedish Academy.

Since then the award has gone to many prominent writers from region such as: Jon Fosse (2015) for his, “Trilogy,” Naja Marie Aidt (2008) for her short story collection, “Baboon,” Merethe Lindstrøm (2012) for her novel “Days in the History of Silence,” Sjon (2005) for his novel, “The Blue Fox,” Tua Forsström (1998) for her poetry collection, “After Having Spent a Night Among Horses,” Per Petterson (2009) “I Curse the River of Time,” and Sofi Oksanen (2010) for her novel “Purge.” Other writers of prominence who have received the award include: former Swedish Academy members, Sara Stridsberg and Kerstin Ekman; disgraced Swedish Academy member, Katarina Frostenson; Norwegian heavyweight Dag Solstad, and Swedish poet Göran Sonnevi.

This year’s Nordic Council’s Literature Prize winner is Icelandic novelist, poet, and playwright: Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, for her novel “Ör,” which has been translated into English as: “Hotel Silence.” The novel was praised by the jury for its emotional resonance and subtle humour, as it traces an emotional disenfranchised man from contemplating suicide, to finding hope and purpose in a stateless land on the brink of political upheaval and collapse. The novel questions the entitlements and privileges of the individual versus the collective, and with vital and invigorated language asks existential ponderings about life and death, as well as purpose and meaning in a world perpetually influx. It’s a novel which testifies to the resilient human tenacity and spirit.

Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir has become the most recent Icelandic author to win the award, after Gyrðir Elíasson (2011) with his short story collection, “Milli trjánna,” or “Through the Trees,” which has yet to be translated into English.

Other writers nominated for this years, Nordic Council's Literature Prize included, the Finnish-Swedish Language dramatist, novelist and short story writer, Susanne Ringell, who was nominated alongside her short story collection: “God morgon,” or “Good Morning.” Secretly, I had hoped Ringell and her short story collection would receive the award, as she appears to be a striking and unique writer, who has yet been translated into English. Swedish dramatist, poet, literary critic and novelist, Agneta Pleijel was also nominated for the award, for her novel “Doften av en man,” or “The Scent of a Man,” which had won the Swedish Academy Nordic Prize back in the spring. She also beat the Finnish poet superstar and Runeberg Poetry winner, Olli-Pekka Tennilä and his poetry collection: “Ontto harmaa,” or “Hollow Grey.”

Congratulations to Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, on receiving this year’s Nordic Council’s Literature Prize.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader

Take Care

And As Always

Stay Well

M. Mary