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Kim Leine

キム・レイネ

Kim Leine

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1961-08-28 （Seljord, Telemark, Norway）
Nationality
Danish, Norwegian
Languages
Danish
Religion
Jehovah's Witnesses (upbringing)
Residence History
Seljord, Norway - childhood → Denmark (moved in 1978) → Nuuk, Greenland - lived from 1989 for several years → East Greenland, Langeland (residences) → Denmark (returned in 2004)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Nurse
Active Years
2007-
Nominations
International Dublin Literary Award shortlist (2017)

Education

Bispebjerg Nursing School
Period: 〜1987
Year of Graduation: 1987
Country: Denmark
Trained as a nurse

Awards

Bodil and Jørgen Munch-Christensen's Debut Author Prize
2007
Work: Kalak
Result: 受賞
Weekendavisen Book Award
2012
Work: The Prophets of Eternal Fjord
Organization: Weekendavisen
Result: 受賞
De Gyldne Laurbær
2012
Work: The Prophets of Eternal Fjord
Organization: Danish booksellers/organizers
Result: 受賞
Jytte Borberg Prize
2012
Work: The Prophets of Eternal Fjord
Result: 受賞
Politiken's Literature Prize
2012
Work: The Prophets of Eternal Fjord
Organization: Politiken
Result: 受賞
Danish Radio's Novel Prize
2013
Work: The Prophets of Eternal Fjord
Organization: Danish Radio
Result: 受賞
Nordic Council Literature Prize
2013
Work: The Prophets of Eternal Fjord
Organization: Nordic Council
Result: 受賞
International Dublin Literary Award
2017
Work: The Prophets of Eternal Fjord
Organization: International Dublin Literary Award
Result: ショートリスト（候補）
Crown Prince Couple's Awards
2018
Organization: Associated with the Danish Crown
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Kalak

2007 Novel

Debut novel incorporating experiences from nursing and life in the Arctic regions, with autobiographical elements.

SelfArctic lifeHuman relationships

Valdemarsdag

2008 Novel

Tunu

2009 Novel

The Prophets of Eternal Fjord

2012 Historical novel / Social novel

Set in Greenland, the novel explores religion, colonialism, personal ruin and redemption. It interweaves the author's experiences and historical material and is the first part of a Greenland trilogy.

GreenlandReligionColonialismGuilt and redemption
Translations
  • English translation: The Prophets of Eternal Fjord

Afgrunden

2015 Novel

De søvnløse

2016 Novel

Rød mand/Sort mand (The Colony of Good Hope)

2018 Novel (part 2 of Greenland trilogy)

Second part of the Greenland trilogy, depicting conflicts and cultural clashes during the colonial period.

ColonialismCultural conflictPower
Translations
  • English translation: The Colony of Good Hope (March 2022)

Efter Åndemaneren

2021 Novel (part 3 of Greenland trilogy)

Final part of the trilogy, concluding the historical and personal narratives set in Greenland.

ConclusionHistoryPersonal narratives

Karolines Kamp 1

2022 Novel

Karolines Kamp 2

2023 Novel

Bibliography

  • Kalak (2007)
  • Valdemarsdag (2008)
  • Tunu (2009)
  • The Prophets of Eternal Fjord (2012)
  • Afgrunden (2015)
  • De søvnløse (2016)
  • Rød mand/Sort mand (2018)
  • Efter Åndemaneren (2021)
  • Karolines Kamp 1 (2022)
  • Karolines Kamp 2 (2023)
  • Various children's books and comics

Translations of Works

  • Profeterne i Evighedsfjorden → English: The Prophets of Eternal Fjord
  • Rød mand/Sort mand → English: The Colony of Good Hope

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Narration that interweaves historical facts and personal experienceRealist, detailed descriptionsExploration of religion and guilt in style
Recurring Motifs
ReligionGreenland's nature and societyColonialismRedemption

Legacy

Kim Leine has gained international recognition for powerful narratives set in Greenland. In particular, The Prophets of Eternal Fjord won multiple major awards and is considered an important work in Nordic literature.

Trivia

  • Read and wrote continuously from age 12 and debuted as a novelist at 46.
  • His books have been translated into more than 20 languages.
  • Raised in a Jehovah's Witness family during childhood.
  • Long periods living in Greenland heavily influenced his work.