Per Olov Enquist
Encyclopedia
Per Olov Enquist, better known as P. O. Enquist, (born 23 September 1934 in Hjoggböle, Skellefteå
, Västerbotten
) is a Swedish
author. He has worked as a journalist
, playwright
and novelist. In the nineties, he gained international recognition with his novel The Visit of The Royal Physician.
at Uppsala University
he worked as a newspaper columnist
and TV debate moderator from 1965 to 1976. Because of his work he soon became an influential figure on the Swedish
literary scene. From 1970 to 1971 Enquist lived in Berlin
on a grant from the German Academic Exchange Service
and in 1973 he was a visiting professor at the University of California, Los Angeles
. He has been working as an independent writer since 1977.
Enquist's works are characterized by a chronic pessimistic view of the world. They always describe the restrictions imposed by the pietistical
way of living, especially in March of the Musicians (1978) and Lewi
's Journey (2001). He gained international recognition with his novel The Visit of The Royal Physician (1999) where he tells the story of Johann Friedrich Struensee
, the personal physician of the Danish King Christian VII
.
Some of Enquist's works have been translated into English by Tiina Nunnally
.
in 1977, the Dobloug Prize
in 1988, and the Italian the Flaiano Prize
in 2002. He also received the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
as well as the Nelly Sachs Prize
in 2003 for Livläkarens Besök (titled in English translation as "The Visit of the Royal Physician"). In 2010, Enquist was awarded The Austrian State Prize for European Literature for his great storytelling.
Skellefteå
-Industry:*Boliden AB, a big mining and smelting company*Alimak*Natural User Interface Technologies AB - NUITEQ, a promising emerging technology start-up company-Sports:*Skellefteå AIK, an ice hockey team in the highest Swedish league, Elitserien....
, Västerbotten
Västerbotten
', English exonym: West Bothnia, is a province or landskap in the north of Sweden. It borders Ångermanland, Lapland, Norrbotten and the Gulf of Bothnia. It is famous for the cheese with the same name as the province.- Administration :...
) is a Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
author. He has worked as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and novelist. In the nineties, he gained international recognition with his novel The Visit of The Royal Physician.
Biograpohy
After a degree in history of literatureHistory of literature
The history of literature is the historical development of writings in prose or poetry which attempts to provide entertainment, enlightenment, or instruction to the reader/hearer/observer, as well as the development of the literary techniques used in the communication of these pieces. Not all...
at Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
he worked as a newspaper columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
and TV debate moderator from 1965 to 1976. Because of his work he soon became an influential figure on the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
literary scene. From 1970 to 1971 Enquist lived in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
on a grant from the German Academic Exchange Service
German Academic Exchange Service
The German Academic Exchange Service or DAAD is the largest German support organisation in the field of international academic co-operation....
and in 1973 he was a visiting professor at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
. He has been working as an independent writer since 1977.
Enquist's works are characterized by a chronic pessimistic view of the world. They always describe the restrictions imposed by the pietistical
Pietism
Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptism, inspiring not only Anglican priest John Wesley to begin the Methodist movement, but also Alexander Mack to...
way of living, especially in March of the Musicians (1978) and Lewi
Lewi Pethrus
Petrus Lewi Pethrus was a Swedish Pentecostal minister who played a decisive role in the formation and development of the Pentecostal movement in his country.-Life:...
's Journey (2001). He gained international recognition with his novel The Visit of The Royal Physician (1999) where he tells the story of Johann Friedrich Struensee
Johann Friedrich Struensee
Count Johann Friedrich Struensee was a German doctor. He became royal physician to the mentally ill King Christian VII of Denmark and a minister in the Danish government. He rose in power to a position of “de facto” regent of the country, where he tried to carry out widespread reforms...
, the personal physician of the Danish King Christian VII
Christian VII of Denmark
Christian VII was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig and Holstein from 1766 until his death. He was the son of Danish King Frederick V and his first consort Louisa, daughter of King George II of Great Britain....
.
Some of Enquist's works have been translated into English by Tiina Nunnally
Tiina Nunnally
Tiina Nunnally is an American author and translator.Nunnally was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and St. Louis Park, Minnesota. She was an AFS exchange student to Århus, Denmark in 1969-70. She received her MA in 1976 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a...
.
Recognition
He was awarded the Nordic Council's Literature Prize in 1968 with a recounting of Sweden's deportation of Baltic-country soldiers at the end of the second world war. His recognition went on to include the Selma Lagerlöf PrizeSelma Lagerlöf Prize
The Selma Lagerlöf Prize is a Swedish literary prize awarded to a Swedish author writing in the spirit of Selma Lagerlöf who was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. The prize was founded by the Sunne Municipality in 1983 and has been awarded annually since 1984. Recipients...
in 1977, the Dobloug Prize
Dobloug Prize
The Dobloug Prize is a literature prize awarded for Swedish and Norwegian fiction. The prize is named after Norwegian businessman and philanthropist Birger Dobloug pursuant to his bequest. The prize sum is . The Dobloug Prize is awarded annually by the Swedish Academy.-Prize winners:...
in 1988, and the Italian the Flaiano Prize
Flaiano Prize
The Flaiano Prize , is an Italian international award recognizing achievement in the fields of theater, cinema, television, and literature...
in 2002. He also received the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
Independent Foreign Fiction Prize
The Independent Foreign Fiction Prize was inaugurated by British newspaper The Independent to honour contemporary fiction in translation in the United Kingdom. The award was first launched in 1990 and ran for five years before falling into abeyance. It was revived in 2001 with the financial support...
as well as the Nelly Sachs Prize
Nelly Sachs Prize
The Nelly Sachs Prize is a literary prize given every two years by the German city of Dortmund. It is named after the Jewish poet Nelly Sachs and includes a cash award of €15,000...
in 2003 for Livläkarens Besök (titled in English translation as "The Visit of the Royal Physician"). In 2010, Enquist was awarded The Austrian State Prize for European Literature for his great storytelling.