Home HomeSwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Norrman receives the Nordic Council's Literature Prize

The Norwegian author Niels Fredrik Dahl receives the Nordic Council's Literature Prize for the novel "Father's Back", according to Norwegian critics a highlight of his authorship. It is a great honor, he says.

» Published: 22 October 2024

Norrman receives the Nordic Council's Literature Prize
Photo: Fartein Rudjord

The previous novel, "Mother of the Night" – about an author trying to understand who his depressed mother was – had great similarities with Niels Fredrik Dahl's own life and his own mother. A novel about two depressively inclined people, according to himself.

"Father's Back" deals with his father and gives him almost all the space.

The back can mean so much, both security and rejection. He was a lonely man who in many ways stood outside life. But he was simultaneously very loving and warm. It's both closeness and distancing that lies in this back, says Niels Fredrik Dahl.

Restless Europe

The father was born in Egypt and was already placed in a boarding school in Geneva by his Norwegian parents as a child, something that came to characterize his life. Niels Fredrik Dahl sees him coming walking from Egypt, via Switzerland and up to Norway, through a Europe in flames. After his father's death in 2008, Niels Fredrik Dahl realized how little he knew about him.

In living life, I saw his back, to be able to write about him and give him a place, I had to turn him around so that he came walking towards me.

"Father's Back" will be published in Swedish translation by Gun-Britt Sundström at the beginning of next year.

No Swede

The Nordic Council's prize winners were presented in a pre-recorded TV program on Tuesday evening.

The children's and young adult literature prize goes to the Danish comic artist and illustrator Jakob Martin Strid for "The Fantastic Bus", the music prize to the Danish composer Rune Glerup for his violin concerto "About Light and Darkness" and the film prize to the Norwegian director Dag Johan Haugerud for "Sex", a drama comedy about two chimney sweeps with homoerotic desires.

The Icelandic architect Arnhildur Pálmadóttir receives the environmental prize for her focus on sustainability and reuse in urban planning.

All prize winners receive 300,000 Danish kronor.

The Nordic Council's prizes are awarded this year in Reykjavik and the Icelandic hosts have decided to make a pre-recorded TV program about the winners and nominees instead of a traditional award gala. It's been a long time since the award gala was broadcast live on TV in the Nordic countries and Bryndís Haraldsdóttir, chair of the Nordic Council's presidency, wants to try a new approach to reach a broader audience.

"We've had a pretty expensive gala that wasn't shown, we didn't really feel that it's what this is about", says Bryndís Haraldsdóttir.

In Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Finland, and Denmark, the program was shown on public service, but not in Sweden, where interested parties are referred to www.norden.org.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

The Turnaround: SR Takes Over Threatened Library
1 MIN READ

The Turnaround: SR Takes Over Threatened Library

Up to 400 may be laid off from Finnish Yle
1 MIN READ

Up to 400 may be laid off from Finnish Yle

The Swedish songs that count towards the EU's songbook
1 MIN READ

The Swedish songs that count towards the EU's songbook

Oasis Expands World Tour
1 MIN READ

Oasis Expands World Tour

Kristofer Hivju is Santa's unknown brother
3 MIN READ

Kristofer Hivju is Santa's unknown brother

Celebrities react to the election result
2 MIN READ

Celebrities react to the election result

The State Wins Against Secretly Filmed Vaccine Opponent
2 MIN READ

The State Wins Against Secretly Filmed Vaccine Opponent

St. Goran Hospital becomes a reality TV show
1 MIN READ

St. Goran Hospital becomes a reality TV show

"Michael" to Premiere in Fall 2025
1 MIN READ

"Michael" to Premiere in Fall 2025

Million Support to Malmö Art Hall
1 MIN READ

Million Support to Malmö Art Hall

Jens Lapidus makes TV about famous violent crimes
2 MIN READ

Jens Lapidus makes TV about famous violent crimes

Million Grant to Malmö Art Hall
1 MIN READ

Million Grant to Malmö Art Hall

This week's film and series
2 MIN READ

This week's film and series

Dr. Phil: I'm not supporting Trump
1 MIN READ

Dr. Phil: I'm not supporting Trump

"The Wizard from Oz" Shoes for Sale at Auction
1 MIN READ

"The Wizard from Oz" Shoes for Sale at Auction

23-year-old arrested after theft of Warhol artwork
1 MIN READ

23-year-old arrested after theft of Warhol artwork

Releases a book about Jönssonligan
1 MIN READ

Releases a book about Jönssonligan

The Goncourt Prize means huge sales
1 MIN READ

The Goncourt Prize means huge sales

Magnus von Horn may receive an award at the EFA gala
1 MIN READ

Magnus von Horn may receive an award at the EFA gala

Hanna Järver to Viva Sounds
1 MIN READ

Hanna Järver to Viva Sounds