REYKJAVIK, Iceland, Sept. 17,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The prestigious Halldór
Laxness International Literary Prize 2024 is awarded to the author
Salman Rushdie. The award ceremony, held on September 13 in Reykjavík, Iceland, marks the fourth time this highly
regarded prize has been bestowed, celebrating Salman Rushdie's
exceptional contributions to world literature.
The Halldór Laxness International Literary Prize was
established to perpetuate the legacy of Halldór Laxness,
Iceland's Nobel Laureate in
Literature, and to ensure that his name and influence continue to
resonate both within Iceland and
across the globe. Valued at 15,000
euros, the prize is awarded biannually to a celebrated
writer who, through their works, has renewed the narrative
art—echoing the very grounds on which Laxness himself was awarded
the Nobel Prize in 1955.
Since its inception, the Halldór Laxness International
Literary Prize has honored some of the world's most illustrious
writers, including Ian McEwan
(2019), Elif Shafak (2021), and Andrey
Kurkov (2022). This year, the prize committee, consisting of
author Andrey Kurkov, literary
critic Egill Helgason, and Stella
Soffía Jóhannesdóttir, Director of the Reykjavík International
Literary Festival, reached a unanimous decision in favor of Salman
Rushdie.
"Salman Rushdie's work embodies the spirit of literary
innovation and cultural dialogue that the Halldór Laxness Prize
seeks to honor," said Stella Soffía Jóhannesdóttir, Director of the
Reykjavík International Literary Festival and chairman of the
selection committee. "His stories resonate across borders,
reminding us of the universal power of literature."
"I am honored to receive the Halldór Laxness Literary Prize,"
said Salman Rushdie. "I know Halldór Laxness was a prodigious
writer and have been checking out some of his work and learning,
too, about his extraordinary life."
The selection committee's verdict, written by Andrey
Kurkov, reads:
"The name of Salman Rushdie is inseparable from his epic
novels, saturated with exquisite and magical details, and from his
struggle for freedom of creativity, freedom of thought, and the
right to remain true to himself.
For readers all over the world, the image of Rushdie —
who, for more than thirty years, has continued to create enchanting
novels under the terrible pressure of a threat to his life — has
become a symbol of courage and unbroken will.
The novels he has produced during this time are fascinating,
philosophical, and enlightening tales for readers ready to discover
new worlds.
With his complex national and geo-cultural identity,
Rushdie has become a guide and translator of new, sometimes exotic
meanings for readers — a writer-artist who imparts new colors and
new semantic shades to seemingly familiar words. His stories are
beautiful and intricate, yet always easy to follow, like the
richest Persian carpets.
In the vast tapestry of Rushdie's work, which continues
to delight readers around the world, "The Knife," an essay written
as a blow in response to the attempt to silence him, stands out. It
enriches this pattern with political and philosophical wisdom that
is razor-sharp in its contemporary significance.
The Halldór Laxness International Literary Prize is
generously supported by The Prime Minister's Office, The Ministry
for Education, Science and Culture, Business Iceland, the Reykjavík
International Literary Festival, Gljúfrasteinn - the Laxness
Museum, and Forlagið, Laxness's Icelandic publisher.
The Halldór Laxness International Literary Prize will
continue to recognize those writers whose works, like Laxness's,
transform our understanding of the world and our place within
it.
Additional photos from the ceremony are available here.
Media inquiries:
Stella Soffía Jóhannesdóttir, stella@bokmenntahatid.is
Reykjavík International Literary Festival
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SOURCE Business Iceland