The Per Olov Enquist Prize goes to a young author whose authorship is on its way to gaining ground in Europe and Helle Helle was presented with the prize at Göteborg Book Fair at 12.30 Friday, September 25. The prize consists of 5000 Euros and former recipients are Julie Zeh, Jonas Hassen Khemiri, Trude Marstein, and Daniel Kehlmann.

"Helle Helle writes minimalistic masterpieces in seemingly simple, compressed prose, incredibly full of subtexts", remarked PO Enquists before he handed over the prize cheque to the winner.

Helle Helle is one of Denmark’s most widely read authors. Since her debut in 1993 with Eksempler på liv [Examples of Life] she has published two collections of short stories and the novels Forestillingen om et ukompliceret liv med en Mand [The idea of an uncomplicated life with a man], Rødby-Puttgarden [Rødby-Puttgarden], and latest the critically acclaimed and bestselling Ned til hundene[Down to the dogs].

For Rødby-Puttgarden, which sold a huge 40.000 copies, she was awarded the Critic’s Prize and Ned til hundene was recommended for the Nordic Council's Literature Prize.

About Ned til hundene from 2008 the Press wrote:

“Helle Helle has added a new dimension to Danish realism, and one cannot but admire her distinguished and sober voice as she brings these quiet existences into vision and makes them large as life.”
- Politiken