The Icelandic Literature Awards were presented for the 20th time at the presidential residence Bessastadir yesterday. This year, awards were presented to Einar Kárason for is novel Ofsi and Thorvaldur Kristinsson for the biography of actor Lárus Pálsson.
Chairman of the Association of Book Publishers Kristján B. Jónasson gave the opening speech, after which President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson presented the jury’s selections and granted the prizes to the winners, Fréttabladid reports.
Kárason and Kristinsson received a prize of ISK 750,000 (USD 635, EUR 477) each in addition to certificates and trophies designed by goldsmith Jón Snorri Sigurdsson from Gullsmídaverkstaedi Jens.
Ten books were nominated for the award in December. The jury comprised three experts, linguistics professor Dr. Gudrún Kvaran, literature professor Dr. Dagný Kristjánsdóttir and historian Stefán Pálsson.
