Ófeigur receives EU Prize for Literature

1. December, 2011

Ófeigur Sigurðsson's historical novel Jon is one of twelve European works favoured by the 2011 European Prize for Literature.

Ófeigur SigurðssonAt a ceremony taking place in Brussels last Monday, the author Ófeigur Sigurðsson received the EU Prize for Literature for the historical novel Jon (Icelandic: Skáldsagan um Jón).

Jon is Ófeigur's second novel and relates the story of the Enlightenment figure Jon “Fire Preacher” Steingrímsson, popularly believed to have delivered such a rousing sermon during a devastating 1783 eruption that a lava stream bound for nearby farms simply stopped.

Ófeigur, who has also published a number of poetry books and translations, is one of twelve authors receiving the prize, which is intended to shine a spotlight on the cultural importance of contemporary literature in Europe, increase its circulation and encourage cultural exchange between countries. The prize for each author consists of 5,000 Euros, as well as an increased possibility of translation subsidies.


Latest news

Office closed for the summer - 2. July, 2025 News

Our office will be closed during the summer from July 3rd to August 5th.

More

The Grassroot Grants of the Icelandic Literature Center for 2025 go to Karólína Rós Ólafsdóttir and Natan Jónsson - 16. June, 2025 News

Grassroot grants are awarded annually, with the aim of supporting publication of the work of newcomers on the writing scene and encouraging them to further endeavours

More

This year our Translators' Seminar was dedicated to Sjón - 16. June, 2025 News

The seminar took place in Reykjavík at the end of April and this time the emphasis was on translations of Sjón's works. All participants have one thing in common: they have translated works by the author and poet from Icelandic into their native languages

More

All news