The prize consists of 350.000 kroner (app. 30.000 Euros), and will be given out in Stockholm on April 1st.

This annual prize was created in 1986 to celebrate the Swedish Academy’s 200 year anniversary. It is awarded to individuals in one of the Nordic Countries that have made remarkable contributions to literature or Swedish language.

The latest years’ winners include: Guðbergur Bergsson (2004), Göran Sonnevi (2005), Pia Tafdrup (2006), Jon Fosse and Sven-Eric Liedman (2007).

Kjell Askildsen (b 1929) is regarded the Norwegian master of short stories. He entered the literary scene in 1953 with the collection of short stories FROM NOW ON I'LL TAKE YOU ALL THE WAY HOME, which received glittering reviews in the Oslo press, but was banished from the library in his home town, as it was considered immoral. It was not until 1987, with the appearance of the short story collection A SUDDEN LIBERATING THOUGHT, that Askildsen’s writing really caught the notice of the reading public. His work has since been translated into 20 languages.