Icelandic Literary Prize
3 appearances
-
Edition 28 (2016) Winner
Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir
アウズル・アーヴァ・オウラフソッティル
Audur Ava Olafsdottir
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1958-01-01 （Reykjavík, Iceland）
- Nationality
- Icelandic
- Languages
- Icelandic, English
- Religion
- Catholicism
- Residence History
- Reykjavík, Iceland → Paris, France
Career
- Occupations
- art history professor, novelist, playwright, poet
- Active Years
- 1998-
- Affiliations
- University of Iceland (assistant professor of art history), University of Iceland Art Museum (former director)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Paris (Sorbonne) | — | History of Art | — | — | France |
University of Paris (Sorbonne)
History of Art
Country:
France
Studied history of art in Paris (Sorbonne)
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Nordic Council Literature Prize | Ör (Hotel Silence) | — | Nordic Council | 受賞 |
| 2019 | Médicis Foreign Award (Médicis Étranger) | Ungfrú Ísland (Miss Iceland) | — | Médicis Prize Committee | 受賞 |
| 2016 | Icelandic Literary Awards | Ör (Scar / Hotel Silence) | — | Icelandic Literary Awards Committee | 受賞 |
| 2011 | Prix des libraires du Québec | Rosa Candida (French translation title) | 翻訳部門 | Quebec Booksellers' Prize | 受賞 |
| 2010 | Prix de Page | Rosa Candida | — | Prix de Page (France) | 受賞 |
| 2008 | DV Cultural Awards (literature) | Afleggjarinn (The Greenhouse) | — | DV (Icelandic newspaper) | 受賞 |
| 2008 | Fjöruverðlaunin (Women's Literature Prize) | Afleggjarinn (The Greenhouse) | — | Fjöruverðlaunin Committee | 受賞 |
| 2004 | Tómas Guðmundsson Literary Award | Rigning í nóvember (Butterflies in November) | — | Tómas Guðmundsson Award Committee | 受賞 |
Nordic Council Literature Prize
2018
Work:
Ör (Hotel Silence)
Organization:
Nordic Council
Result:
受賞
Médicis Foreign Award (Médicis Étranger)
2019
Work:
Ungfrú Ísland (Miss Iceland)
Organization:
Médicis Prize Committee
Result:
受賞
Icelandic Literary Awards
2016
Work:
Ör (Scar / Hotel Silence)
Organization:
Icelandic Literary Awards Committee
Result:
受賞
Prix des libraires du Québec
2011
Work:
Rosa Candida (French translation title)
Category:
翻訳部門
Organization:
Quebec Booksellers' Prize
Result:
受賞
Prix de Page
2010
Work:
Rosa Candida
Organization:
Prix de Page (France)
Result:
受賞
DV Cultural Awards (literature)
2008
Work:
Afleggjarinn (The Greenhouse)
Organization:
DV (Icelandic newspaper)
Result:
受賞
Fjöruverðlaunin (Women's Literature Prize)
2008
Work:
Afleggjarinn (The Greenhouse)
Organization:
Fjöruverðlaunin Committee
Result:
受賞
Tómas Guðmundsson Literary Award
2004
Work:
Rigning í nóvember (Butterflies in November)
Organization:
Tómas Guðmundsson Award Committee
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Nordic Council Literature Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 58 (2018) Winner
Prix Médicis
1 appearances
Works
Major Works
Upphækkuð jörð (Raised Earth)
1998 NovelHer first novel, noted for its close examination of small domestic details and establishing her later literary style.
everyday lifefamily
Rigning í nóvember (Butterflies in November)
2004 NovelA moving, layered and optimistic novel that won the Tómas Guðmundsson Literary Award.
renewalhealing
Translations
- German: Ein Schmetterling in November
- English: Butterflies in November
Afleggjarinn (The Greenhouse / Rosa Candida)
2007 NovelA meticulously crafted novel exploring sex, death and parenthood with wry observation; translated into multiple languages.
familydeathhumor
Translations
- English: The Greenhouse
- French: Rosa Candida (French translation)
- Translated into Spanish, Dutch, Italian and others
Undantekningin (The Exception)
2012 NovelA mid-career novel examining exceptions and subtle fractures in human relationships.
human relationshipsexceptions
Ör (Hotel Silence)
2016 NovelA novel about middle-aged renewal and forgiveness; awarded the 2018 Nordic Council Literature Prize.
renewalforgivenessloneliness
Translations
- English: Hotel Silence
- Translated into Portuguese, Swedish, Estonian and others
Ungfrú Ísland (Miss Iceland)
2018 NovelA novel about a young woman's ambitions and societal expectations, told with humor and empathy; winner of the Médicis Étranger.
beautysocietal expectationambition
Translations
- English: Miss Iceland
- Translated into French
Dýralíf (Animal Life)
2020 NovelA recent novel exploring humanity through metaphors of animals and life.
naturemetaphor
Translations
- English: Animal Life
Eden
2022 NovelA recent work with limited widely available review and translation information.
contemporaryhuman relationships
DJ Bambi
2023 NovelVery recent publication with limited detailed information available.
contemporary culturemusic
Sálmurinn um glimmer (poetry)
2010 PoetryA collection of poems showcasing her lyrical voice.
lyricismlight
Bibliography
- Upphækkuð jörð (Raised Earth), 1998
- Rigning í nóvember (Butterflies in November), 2004
- Afleggjarinn (The Greenhouse / Rosa Candida), 2007
- Undantekningin (The Exception), 2012
- Ör (Hotel Silence), 2016
- Ungfrú Ísland (Miss Iceland), 2018
- Dýralíf (Animal Life), 2020
- Eden, 2022
- DJ Bambi, 2023
- Sálmurinn um glimmer (poetry), 2010
Adaptations
- Swans mate for life (theatre production, National Theatre of Iceland, 2014)
Translations of Works
- Rigning í nóvember → German: Ein Schmetterling in November / English: Butterflies in November
- Afleggjarinn → English: The Greenhouse / French: Rosa Candida / translated into other languages
- Ör → English: Hotel Silence / translations into Swedish, Portuguese, Estonian
- Ungfrú Ísland → English: Miss Iceland / translated into French
- Dýralíf → English: Animal Life
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- lyrical and concise proseobservational style with wit and understated humor
- Recurring Motifs
- lonelinessrenewalnature and animalsmusic and visual artreligious undertones
Legacy
Auður Ava is one of contemporary Iceland's notable writers, known for delicate character portrayals and understated humor. Her work has been widely translated and awarded internationally, including the Nordic Council Literature Prize and the Médicis Étranger.
Trivia
- Under Icelandic naming customs her last name is a patronymic; she is commonly referred to by her given name Auður.
- She has publicly stated that she converted to Catholicism.
- Won the 2018 Nordic Council Literature Prize for Ör (Hotel Silence).