(b.1962) is a celebrated Icelandic novelist whose novels The Blue Fox, The Whispering Muse and From the Mouth of the Whale have been translated into more than thirty languages. He has won several awards including the Nordic Council’s Literature Prize for The Blue Fox and has been shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award and the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize.  His novel Moonstone – the Boy Who Never Was was awarded the 2013 Icelandic Literary Prize.

As a poet, librettist and lyricist, Sjón has written nine poetry collections, four opera libretti and song lyrics for various artists. In 2001 he was nominated for an Oscar for his song lyrics in the film ‘Dancer In The Dark’ and his opera ‘Seven Stones’ received the FEDORA prize as the best new European opera of 2018. Sjón has co-written the medieval film The Northman with its director Robert Eggers. Actors playing the mail roles are Nicole Kidman, Ethan Hawke, Alexander Skarsgård, Anya Taylor-Joy and Björk.

In 2021 Sjón was honored with the insignia of Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters (Officier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres) in a ceremony held at the residence of the French ambassador in Reykjavik. The Order of Arts and Letters was established in 1957 by the French government to honor distinguished artists and writers and people who have contributed significantly to furthering the arts in France and throughout the world, contributing to French cultural and creative prestige.

Sjón was awarded the Swedish Academy‘s Nordic Prize 2023, the academy‘s second biggest prize after the Nobel Prize, for his contribution to literature.

For queries, please contact Trine Licht, Licht & Burr Literary Agency Aps: tl @ licht-burr.dk

“A Magus of the North.”
A.S. BYATT

“One of the unavoidable names of contemporary European literature.”
EL PAIS

AWARDS

2016 – DV Cultural Prize for Literature: Ég er sofandi hurð (I am a Sleeping Door)
2013 – DV Cultural Prize for Literature: Mánasteinn (Moon Stone)
2013 – The Booksellers´ Award for best novel of the year: Mánasteinn (Moon Stone)
2013 – The Icelandic Literature Prize: Mánasteinn (Moon Stone)
2005 – The Nordic Council´s Literature Prize: Skugga-Baldur (Blue Fox)
2005 – The Bookseller´s Award for best novel of the year: Argóarflísin (The Whispering Muse)
2002 – DV Cultural Prize for Literature: Með titrandi tár (With a Quivering Tear)
1998 – National Broadcasting Service´s Writer´s Fund
1995 – DV Cultural Prize for Literature: Augu þín sáu mig (Your Eyes Saw Me)

NOMINATIONS

2016 – The Icelandic Literature Prize: Ég er sofandi hurð (I Am a Sleeping Door)
2013 – The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award (shortlist): Rökkurbýsnir (From the Mouth of the Whale)
2009 – Prix Europa: Augu þín sáu mig (Made in Secret). Adaptation by Bjarni Jónsson. In the category Radio Fiction
2009 – Gríman, the Icelandic Theatre Awards: Augu þín sáu mig (Made in Secret / Your Eyes Saw Me). Adaptation by Bjarni Jónsson. As the radio play of the year.
2009 – The Independent Foreign Fiction Prize: The Blue Fox
2008 – The Icelandic Literature Prize: Rökkurbýsnir (From the Mouth of the Whale)
2007 – The Icelandic Literature Prize: Söngur steinasafnarans (The Song of the Stone Collector)
2005 – DV Cultural Prize for Literature: Argóarflísin (The Whispering Muse)
2003 – The Icelandic Literature Prize: Skugga-Baldur (Blue Fox)
2001 – The Academy Award: for lyrics in Lars Von Trier´s musical, Dancer in the Dark