De Gyldne Laurbær (English: The Golden Laurel) (earlier: Boghandlernes Gyldne Laurbær) is a

Danish literature Danish literature () stretches back to the Middle Ages. The earliest preserved texts from Denmark are runic inscriptions on memorial stones and other objects, some of which contain short poems in alliterative verse. In the late 12th century Saxo ...

award An award, sometimes called a distinction, is given to a recipient as a token of recognition of excellence in a certain field. When the token is a medal, ribbon or other item designed for wearing, it is known as a decoration. An award may be d ...

, which was established in 1949. The award is handed by ''The Committee De Gyldne Laurbær'', formerly ''Boghandlerklubben'' (The Bookshops' Club). The prize is given annually in February or March. Originally the award was a laurel wreath, a golden pin with an inscription, some money and a book gift worth 2500 DKK. Today the award is a laurel wreathe, a diploma and a book gift worth 2500 DKK. The award is handed at a ceremony arranged by the publishing house which has published the winning book and by the Committee De Gyldne Laurbær. Early in January every year the committee sends out ballot to all the Danish bookshops, which then give their vote for a Danish book which was published the year before. An author can only win The Golden Laurel once-in-a-lifetime, so the bookshops can not vote for an author who has already won the prize once before. The winner is usually one of the bestsellers among the Danish books. On the day when it is decided who wins the Golden Laurel, the president of the Committee of The Golden Laurel informs the winner about the award, while journalists follow the event.

Recipients

* 1949 – Martin A. Hansen for ''Tanker i en skorsten'' * 1950 –

Hans Christian Branner Hans Christian Branner (23 June 1903 – 24 April 1966) was a Danish novelist, essayist and playwright. He was a leading writer of the post-World War II period in Denmark and a founder member of the Danish Academy. His work dealt with the themes ...

for ''Rytteren'' * 1951 –

Jacob Paludan Stig Henning Jacob Puggaard Paludan (7 February 1896 in Copenhagen - 26 September 1975) was a Danish author In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graph ...

for ''Retur til barndommen'' * 1952 –

Karen Blixen Baroness Karen Christentze von Blixen-Finecke (born Dinesen; 17 April 1885 – 7 September 1962) was a Danish author who wrote in Danish and English. She is also known under her pen names Isak Dinesen, used in English-speaking countries; Ta ...

for ''

Babettes gæstebud The Babys are a British rock group best known for their songs " Isn't It Time" and "Every Time I Think of You". Both songs were composed by Jack Conrad and Ray Kennedy, and each reached No. 13 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 8 on t ...

'' * 1953 –

Aage Dons Aage Bergishagen Dons (19 August 1903 – 20 October 1993) was a Danish writer. He is best known for his novels, ''De uønskede, Frosten paa Ruderne'', and ''Den svundne tid er ej forbi''. Life Dons was born on 18 August 1903 in Svanholm, Frede ...

for ''Altid at spørge'' * 1954 –

Tom Kristensen Tom Kristensen (born 7 July 1967) is a Danish former racing driver. He holds the record for the most wins at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with nine, six of which were consecutive (from 2000 to 2005). In 1997, he won the race with the Joest Racing te ...

* 1955 –

Tove Ditlevsen Tove Irma Margit Ditlevsen (; 14 December 1917 – 7 March 1976) was a Danish poet and author. With published works in a variety of genres, she was one of Denmark's best-known authors by the time of her death. Early life and career Tove ...

* 1956 – * 1957 –

Halfdan Rasmussen Halfdan Wedel Rasmussen (29 January 1915 in Copenhagen – 2 March 2002) was a Danish poet. He was known for his literary nonsense verse for children and his serious adult writings about social issues and human rights. He was awarded with th ...

* 1958 –

Frank Jæger Frank Jæger (19 June 1926 - 4 July 1977) was a Danish writer most known for his poetry and radio plays. He received the Grand Prize of the Danish Academy in 1969. He also edited two volumes of ''Heretica'' magazine with Tage Skou-Hansen. Early l ...

* 1959 – * 1960 – * 1961 – Marcus Lauesen * 1962 – * 1963 – * 1964 –

Erik Aalbæk Jensen Erik Aalbæk Jensen (19 August 1923, Thy, Denmark – 30 September 1997) was a Danish writer and Lutheran minister who was awarded both the Danish Critics Prize for Literature and the Søren Gyldendal Prize for his works, most notably ''Perle ...

* 1965 –

Thorkild Hansen Thorkild Hansen (9 January 1927 – 4 February 1989) was a Danish novelist most noted for his historical fiction. He is popularly known for his trilogy of novels about the Danish slave trade which is composed of '' Coast of Slaves'' (1967), '' S ...

* 1966 –

Klaus Rifbjerg Klaus Rifbjerg (15 December 1931 – 4 April 2015) was a Danish writer. He authored more than 170 novels, books and essays. In 1965 he co-produced the film '' 4x4'' which was entered into the 4th Moscow International Film Festival. Biography R ...

for ''Operaelskeren'' * 1967 – * 1968 –

Anders Bodelsen Anders Bodelsen (11 February 1937 – 17 October 2021) was a Danish writer primarily associated with the 1960 new-realism wave in Danish literature, along with Christian Kampmann and Henrik Stangerup. Bodelsen preferred the social-realistic sty ...

* 1969 –

Inger Christensen Inger Christensen (16 January 1935 – 2 January 2009) was a Danish poet, novelist, essayist and editor. She is considered the foremost Danish poetic experimentalist of her generation. Life and work Born in the town of Vejle, on the eastern ...

for '' Det'' * 1970 –

Leif Panduro Leif Thormod Panduro (18 April 1923 – 16 January 1977) was a Danish writer, novelist, short story writer, and dramatist. Life A dentist by profession, he began in his thirties to write stories about people who can't conform to society's rule ...

* 1971 – for '' Løgn over løgn'' * 1972 –

Christian Kampmann Christian Peter Georg Kampmann (24 July 1939 – 13 September 1988) was a Danish writer and journalist who was born in Hellerup. His novels are mainly about the middle and upper classes in the post war time and until the 1980s. The books are mainly ...

* 1973 –

Anna Ladegaard Anna Ladegaard (14 December 1913 in Aarhus- 16 May 2000) was a Danish writer. Biography Born in Aarhus, Ladegaard studied at Pitman's College in London. In 1952-53 she worked at the Danish Embassy in Stockholm and in 1953 she moved to Souther ...

* 1974 –

Benny Andersen Benny Andersen (7 November 1929 – 16 August 2018)Benny Andersen er død
'' * 1975 – * 1976 –

Dea Trier Mørch Dea Trier Mørch (9 December 1941 – 26 May 2001) was a Danish artist and writer.Marianne Zibrandtsen''Dea Trier Mørch'' Den Store Danske, retrieved 18 January 2015 (Danish). She gained fame in 1976 with ''Vinterbørn'', translated into English ...

* 1977 – * 1978 –

Vita Andersen Vita Andersen (29 October 1942 – 20 July 2021) was a Danish poet, novelist, playwright and children's writer. Career Andersen made her literary debut in 1977 with the poetry collection ', which is among the most sold poetry collections in Den ...

for ''

Hold kæft og vær smuk Hold may refer to: Physical spaces * Hold (compartment), interior cargo space * Baggage hold, cargo space on an airplane * Stronghold, a castle or other fortified place Arts, entertainment, and media * Hold (musical term), a pause, also called a ...

'' * 1979 –

Johannes Møllehave Johannes Volf Møllehave (4 January 1937 – 10 May 2021) was a Danish Lutheran priest, author, and lecturer. Education and career Møllehave was born in Frederiksberg. He graduated in theology in 1963. His wide range of interests extended to ...

for ''Læsehest med æselører'' * 1980 –

Tage Skou-Hansen Tage Skou-Hansen (12 February 1925 – 11 November 2015) was a Danish writer, editor and scholar. Overview Born in the town of Fredericia, Tage Skou-Hansen graduated from Marselisborg gymnasium (Denmark), Gymnasium in Aarhus and became a student ...

* 1981 –

Suzanne Brøgger Suzanne Preis Brøgger Zeruneith (born 18 November 1944 in Copenhagen) is a Danish writer, a novelist, poet and journalist. Her first book ''Fri os fra kærligheden'' has been translated into c. 20 languages. Since 1997 she has been a member of th ...

for ''Tone'' * 1982 –

Kirsten Thorup Kirsten Thorup (born 1942) is a Danish author. Background and education Kirsten Thorup was born in Gelsted, Funen, Denmark in 1942. After a brief stay in Cambridge as an au pair, she studied English at the University of Copenhagen, dropping out ...

* 1983 –

Dorrit Willumsen Dorrit Willumsen (born 31 August 1940 in Nørrebro, Copenhagen) is a Danish writer. She made her literary debut in 1965 with the short story collection ''Knagen''. She was awarded the Danish Critics Prize for Literature in 1983.Cecil Bødker Cecil Bødker (27 March 1927 – 19 April 2020) was a Danish writer and poet, most known for young adult fiction books about the character "Silas". For her "lasting contribution to children's literature" she received the international Hans Chr ...

for ''Marias Barn. Drengen'' and ''Marias Barn. Manden'' * 1985 – Helle Stangerup for ''Christine'' * 1986 –

Paul Hammerich Paul Hammerich (12 June 1927 – 16 April 1992) was a Danish journalist and writer. Hammerich was one of the writers behind the successful Danish TV-series, ''Matador A bullfighter or matador () is a performer in the activity of bullfi ...

for '' Lysmageren'' * 1987 – Martha Christensen for ''

Dansen med Regitze ''Waltzing Regitze'' (), also known as ''Memories of a Marriage'', is a 1989 Danish drama film directed by Kaspar Rostrup. Based upon a popular Danish novel by Martha Christensen, the film is an unsentimental portrait of the history and changes ...

'' * 1988 –

Bjarne Reuter Bjarne Reuter (born 29 April 1950) is a Danish writer and screenwriter best known for children's and young adult fiction. * 1989 –

Ib Michael Ib Michael (born 1945 in Roskilde, Denmark) is a Danish novelist and poet. His writing style has been described as magic realism. He attended the University of Copenhagen, where he studied Central American and Indian Language and Culture. Michael ...

for ' * 1990 –

Peter Seeberg Peter Seeberg (22 June 1925 – 8 January 1999) was a Danish modernist novelist and playwright, inspired by the French existentialists. He made his literary debut in 1956 with the novel ''Bipersonerne''. He was born in Skrydstrup in Hadersle ...

for ''

Om fjorten dage ''Om'' (or ''Aum''; ; , ISO 15919: ''Ōṁ'') is a polysemous symbol representing a sacred sound, seed syllable, mantra, and invocation in Hinduism. Its written form is the most important symbol in the Hindu religion. It is the esse ...

'' * 1991 –

Leif Davidsen Leif Davidsen (born 25 July 1950 in Otterup) is a Danish author and journalist. Career Educated as a journalist, in 1977 he started working in Spain as a freelance journalist for Danmarks Radio. In 1980 he began covering Soviet news with fr ...

for ''

Den sidste spion Den may refer to: * Den (room), a small room in a house * Maternity den, a lair where an animal gives birth Media and entertainment * ''Den'' (album), 2012, by Kreidler * Den (''Battle Angel Alita''), a character in the ''Battle Angel Alita'' ...

'' * 1992 –

Lise Nørgaard Lise Nørgaard (born Elise Jensen; 14 June 1917 – 1 January 2023) was a Danish journalist and writer known for her precise and often humorous portrayals of Danish cultural life. Nørgaard wrote novels, compilations of essays and short stories. ...

for ''

Kun en pige Kun or KUN may refer to: *Kun (surname), Kún Khun etc People with the given name or nickname * Cai Xukun (b. 1998), Chinese singer known simply as Kun * Cao Kun (1862–1938), President of the Republic of China * Chen Kun (b. 1976), Chinese ac ...

'' * 1993 –

Peter Høeg Peter Høeg (born 17 May 1957) is a Danish writer of fiction. He is best known for his novel ''Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow'' (1992). Early life Høeg was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Before becoming a writer, he worked variously as a sailor, ...

for ''

De måske egnede ''Borderliners'' is the English translation of ''De måske egnede'', a novel written by Danish author Peter Høeg in 1993. It is about three children – Peter, Katarina, and August – who attend a private school in Copenhagen in the mid-1970s. ...

'' * 1994 –

Jørn Riel Jørn Riel (23 July 1931 – 18 August 2023) was a Danish writer. Riel was born in Odense on 23 July 1931. He was partly known for works on Greenland as he lived there for sixteen years. One of his works was adapted to film as '' Before Tomorro ...

for ''Cirkulæret og andre skrøner'' * 1995 –

Henrik Nordbrandt Henrik Nordbrandt (21 March 1945 – 31 January 2023) was a Danish poet, novelist, and essayist. He made his literary debut in 1966 with the poetry collection ''Digte''. He was awarded the Nordic Council's Literature Prize in 2000 for the poetry c ...

for '' Ormene ved himlens port'' * 1996 –

Carsten Jensen Carsten Jensen (born 24 July 1952) is a Danish author and political columnist. He first earned recognition as a literary critic for the Copenhagen daily, ''Politiken.'' His books, including ''I Have Seen the World Begin'' (1996), deal with knowle ...

for '' Jeg har set verden begynde'' * 1997 –

Jane Aamund Jane Aamund (8 November 1936 – 29 January 2019) was a Danish author and journalist. Her breakthrough in Denmark came with the ''Klinkevals'' trilogy. Biography She was the sister of the Danish businessman Asger Aamund. She was married thrice ...

for ''

Colorado drømme Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

'' * 1998 –

Jens Christian Grøndahl Jens Christian Grøndahl (born 9 November 1959 in Lyngby) is a Danish writer. His novel ''An Altered Light'' was shortlisted for the 2006 International Dublin Literary Award. In 1998 he won the Danish booksellers award De Gyldne Laurbær (The G ...

for ''

Lucca Città di Lucca ( ; ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the Serchio River, in a fertile plain near the Ligurian Sea. The city has a population of about 89,000, while its Province of Lucca, province has a population of 383,9 ...

'' * 1999 –

Svend Åge Madsen Svend Åge Madsen ( born 2 November 1939) is a Danish novelist. He studied mathematics before he began writing fiction. His novels are generally philosophical and humorous. Several of his works have been made into films in Denmark. His writings ...

for '' Genspejlet'' * 2000 –

Anne Marie Løn Anne Marie Løn (born 1947) is a Danish writer who initially worked as a journalist in Copenhagen for newspapers including the tabloid '' B.T.''. As a novelist, she made her debut with ''Hvorfor hvisker I til mig?'' (Why Do You Whisper To Me?) in ...

for '' Kærlighedens rum'' * 2001 –

Hans Edvard Nørregård-Nielsen Hans Edvard Nørregård-Nielsen (2 January 1945 – 2 April 2023) was a Danish art historian. Nørregård-Nielsen was born in . He was an alumnus of Ribe Katedralskole and wrote several memoirs. In 2001, he was awarded the De Gyldne Laurbær priz ...

for '' Riber Ret'' * 2002 –

Jakob Ejersbo Jakob Ejersbo (6 April 1968, in Rødovre – 10 July 2008, in Aalborg) was a Danish journalist and writer. His work is considered modern and neorealistic. Authoring the immensely popular novel, '' Nordkraft'', which sold more than 100,000 copies, ...

for ''

Nordkraft Narvik Energi is a Electrical power industry, power company that serves Narvik in Norway. It operates seven hydroelectricity, hydroelectric power stations and Nygårdsfjellet wind farm. The company is owned by the Narvik, City of Narvik (50.01%) ...

'' * 2003 – for ' * 2004 –

Christian Jungersen Christian Jungersen is a Danish novelist whose works have been translated into 20 languages. He has published three novels in Danish – ''Krat'' (1999), ''Undtagelsen'' (2004, published in English as ''The Exception'' in 2006), and ''Du Fors ...

for ' * 2005 – for ' * 2006 – for ' * 2007 – for ' * 2008 –

Hanne-Vibeke Holst Hanne-Vibeke Holst (born 21 February 1959 in Hjørring, Denmark) is an author. She has an education as a journalist and has worked on the Danish newspapers ''Berlingske Tidende'' and ''Søndags B.T.'' She is the daughter of authors Knud Holst And ...

for '' Dronningeofret'' * 2009 – Ida Jessen for the novel '' Børnene'' * 2010 –

Jussi Adler-Olsen Carl Valdemar Jussi Henry Adler-Olsen (born 2 August 1950) is a Denmark, Danish crime fiction writer, a publisher, editor, and entrepreneur, best known for his ''Department Q'' series. He made his debut as a nonfiction writer in 1984, and as a f ...

for the novel ' * 2011 –

Helle Helle Helle Helle (born 14 December 1965 as Helle Olsen but later named Helle Krogh Hansen) is a widely translated Danish short story writer and novelist. Basing her stories on episodes in the lives of ordinary people, she gained fame in 2005 with her ...

for the novel '' Dette burde skrives i nutid'' * 2012 –

Kim Leine Kim Leine Rasmussen (b. 28 August 1961 in Seljord, Telemark, Norway) is a Danish-Norwegian author who writes predominantly about Greenland. His books have been translated into twenty languages and won several prestigious literary prizes. His n ...

for the novel '' Profeterne i Evighedsfjorden'' * 2013 – for the novel '' Forbandede yngel'' * 2014 –

Sara Blædel Sara Blædel (born 6 August 1964) is a Danish author. She is best known for her crime fiction novels featuring Louise Rick. Blædel founded the "Sara B" crime fiction publishing company in 1993, and in 1995 she started to work as a journalist. ...

for the novel '' Kvinden de meldte savnet'' * 2015 – for the novel ''

Aisha Aisha bint Abi Bakr () was a seventh century Arab commander, politician, Muhaddith, muhadditha and the third and youngest wife of the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad. Aisha had an important role in early Islamic h ...

'' * 2016 – for the novel '' Folkets skønhed'' * 2017 – for the novel '' En anden gren'' * 2018 – for the novel ' * 2019 – Sara Omar for the novel ''Skyggedanseren'' * 2020 – Stine Pilgaard for the novel ''Meter i sekundet'' * 2021 –

Thomas Korsgaard Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the Ap ...

for the novel ''Man skulle nok have været der'' * 2022 – Maren Uthaug for the novel ''11%'' * 2023 – Kim Blæsbjerg for the novel ''De bedste familier''

References

External links

List of recipients of the prize ''De Gyldne Laurbær''
on Boghandlerklubben.dk {{DEFAULTSORT:De Gyldne Laurbaer 1949 establishments in Denmark Awards established in 1949 Danish literary awards