The 2007 International Dublin Literary Award, valued at 100,000 euros, recognized Per Petterson’s novel Out Stealing Horses as a significant work of fiction. A Norwegian author who established his career through a series of critically acclaimed novels, Petterson transitioned from roles as a librarian and bookseller to become a globally read writer whose books appear in nearly 50 languages.
Early Career and Literary Debut
Born in Oslo in 1952, Petterson initially worked as a bookstore clerk, literary critic, and translator before committing to full-time writing. His literary career began in 1987 with the publication of the short story collection Aske i munnen, sand i skoa. This initial effort signaled his arrival in the Norwegian literary scene, eventually seeing an English language release titled Ashes in My Mouth, Sand in My Shoes in 2013.
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Petterson’s writing often draws from profound personal experience, most notably in the 2000 novel I kjølvannet, known in English as In the Wake. The narrative follows a young man grappling with the loss of his family in the 1990 Scandinavian Star ferry disaster. This tragedy mirrored the author's own life, as Petterson lost his father, mother, younger brother, and a niece in the same maritime catastrophe.
International Recognition
The release of Ut og stjæle hester in 2003 marked a significant breakthrough, securing the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature and the Booksellers’ Best Book of the Year Award. Its English translation, Out Stealing Horses, garnered international praise, including placement on the 2007 New York Times Book Review list of the ten best books of the year. He has cited Raymond Carver and Knut Hamsun as primary artistic influences throughout his development.
Selected Awards and Bibliography
His bibliography includes To Siberia, published in 1996, and the 2008 novel Jeg forbanner tidens elv, which received the Nordic Council Literature Prize in 2009. His literary contributions have earned numerous honors, such as the Dobloug Prize in 2016 and the Brage Award for Fiction in 2008. His most recent works include the 2018 novel Menn i min situasjon and a 2021 journal titled Mitt Abruzzo.
Fast facts
- Born: 1952, Oslo, Norway
- Primary Occupations: Novelist, librarian, translator
- Breakthrough Novel: Ut og stjæle hester (2003)
- Major Award: International Dublin Literary Award (2007)
- Languages: Works translated into almost 50 languages
- Citizenship: Norway
Questions readers ask
What event heavily influenced Petterson's writing in In the Wake?
The book reflects his personal experience losing his mother, father, younger brother, and a niece in the 1990 Scandinavian Star ferry disaster.
Has Per Petterson won international monetary prizes?
Yes, he won the 2007 International Dublin Literary Award, which carried a prize of 100,000 euros for his novel Out Stealing Horses.
Achievements
- Norwegian Booksellers' Prize — 2012
- Gyldendal Prize — 2012
- Nota Bene Book Prize — 1993
- Språklig Samlings Literature Prize — 1993
- October Prize — 1996
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