Meet the nominees of the Nordic Council Literature Prize

Nine novels, four collections of poems, and one collection of short stories have been nominated. The works are characterised by their linguistic presence and uncompromising approach. They contain depictions of the decay of and desire for capitalism, liberation and strife in close relationships, offering survival methods, prophecies about the future of Earth, and a valley of flowers full of the dead.

We’ve teamed up with cultural journalist Yukiko Duke and adjudication committee member Sara Abdollahi. They’ll steer proceedings and ensure that we get some titbits from all the nominees’ works.

Arranged by Nordic Co-operation and Nordatlantens Brygge’s literature salon NordOrd.

Denmark

Penge på lommen. Scandinavian Star. Del 1 by Asta Olivia Nordenhof. Novel, Basilisk...

Mit smykkeskrin by Ursula Andkjær Olsen. Poetry collection, Gyldendal, 2020.

Finland

Bolla by Pajtim Statovci. Novel, Otava, 2019.

Autofiktiv dikt av Heidi von Wright by Heidi von Wright. Poems, Schildts & Söderströms...

Faroe Islands

Eg skrivi á vátt pappír by Lív Maria Róadóttir Jæger. Poems, Forlaget Eksil...

Greenland

Naasuliardarpi by Niviaq Korneliussen. Novel, Milik Publishing, 2020.

Iceland

Um tímann og vatnið by Andri Snær Magnason. Novel, Forlagið, 2019.

Aðferðir til að lifa af by Guðrún Eva Mínervudóttir. Novel, Bjartur, 2019.

Norway

Er mor død by Vigdis Hjorth. Novel, Cappelen Damm, 2020.

Det uferdige huset by Lars Amund Vaage. Novel, Forlaget Oktober, 2020.

The Sami Language Area

Gáhttára Iđit by Inga Ravna Eira. Poems, Davvi Girji, 2019.

Sweden

Strega by Johanne Lykke Holm. Novel, Albert Bonniers Förlag, 2020.

Renheten by Andrzej Tichý. Short stories, Albert Bonniers Förlag, 2020.

Åland

Broarna by Sebastian Johans. Novel, Nirstedt/litteratur, 2020.

Winner to be announced on 2 November

The winner of the 2021 Nordic Council Literature Prize will be announced on 2 November in Copenhagen in conjunction with the Session of the Nordic Council. The winner will receive the Nordlys statuette and DKK 300,000.

About the Nordic Council Literature Prize

The Nordic Council Literature Prize, awarded since 1962, goes to a literary work written in one of the Nordic languages, such as a novel, drama, poetry collection, or a collection of short stories or essays that meets high literary and artistic standards.

The purpose of the Nordic Council’s five prizes is to raise interest in the Nordic cultural community and Nordic co-operation on the environment, as well as to recognise outstanding artistic and environmental efforts.