Ida Jessen Denmark
Ida Jessen, Danish author. Born 1964 in Sønderjylland. She holds an M.A. in History of Literature and Communication from Århus University 1990. Ida Jessen made her literary debut in 1989 with the collection of short stories Under sten (Under Stones) and has since then written a number of novels and short stories for both children and adults. Since 1995 she has lived on Sealand. Jessen has translated a number of novels also for young adults from Norwegian and English to Danish, amongst others novels by Lars Saabye Christensen and Karin Fossum.
Ida Jessen has been awarded a long list of prizes and awards for her work: The Danish Art Foundation (several times), The Danish Arts Council (several times), Gyldendal’s Book Grant, The Egholt Prize, The Albert Dam Grant, The Holger Drachmann Grant, The Jytte Borberg Prize and BG Bank’s Literature Prize to name but a few.
In April 2009 Ida Jessen was awarded the prestigeous Søren Gyldendal-Prize. Since 1958, on Søren Gyldendal’s birthday the 12th of April, the Prize has been awarded an author with a strong and distinctive work of creation. In the justification is said: Through gentle descriptions of atmosphere and conflicts and with a firm grip on the Danish language Ida Jessen shows great insight in modern individuals.
Along with the honour Ida Jessen receives 200.000 Dkr.
In January 2010 Ida Jessen was awarded The Golden Laurels 2009 for her latest novel, Børnene (the Children). This is the biggest and most significant prize awarded by the Danish booksellers which also has an important impact on the Danish market.
Ida Jessen was nominated for the Prize of the Nordic Council 2010 for Børnene.
Ida Jessen's novels have been sold to a long list of publishers world-wide.
Børnene
(The Children)
Gyldendal, August 2009
In the beginning of the Nineties the health visitor Solvej Hartmann moves to Hvium. She has ruined her marriage by falling in love with someone else and now moved to be closer to her ex-husband and young daughter in the little town near the Lim Fjord. She is without a job, a home or even the possiblity of seeing her daughter as she’d like to.
The only person who welcomes her to Hvium is the helpful and practical Søren Martinsen. Soon Solvej finds herself in a debt of gratitude to him and when she later visits his home as a health visitor and senses that all is not right, it is not easy for her to step in. Nor so fifteen years later when the children have grown up.
During the years in between Solvej settles in Hvium and has lots to fight for. Her friend Ragna from Brogård on the other hand is in the midst of a complete break-up and they both have to ask themselves: when is it right to step in, and when is it right not to.
Børnene is the last book in the trilogy starting with Den der lyver followed by Det første jeg tænker på. All three books can be read independently.
Rights sold:
Norway: Cappelen Damm
Sweden: Kabusa
Netherlands: De Geus
Det første jeg tænker på
(My First Thought)
Gyldendal, Copenhagen 2006
Den der lyver
(The Liar)
Gyldendal, Copenhagen 2001
Bibliography:
En mand kom til byen
(A Man Came to Town)
Short stories
Gyldendal, Copenhagen 2007
ABC Gyldendal, Copenhagen 2005
Foxy Lady I-V Gyldendal, Copenhagen 2003
Sommertid
(Summertime)
Gyldendal, Copenhagen 1999
Vandpaladset
(The Water Palace)
Gyldendal, Copenhagen 1998
Den anden side af havet
(The Other Side of the Ocean)
Short stories
Gyldendal, Copenhagen 1997
De uskyldige
(The Innocent)
Short stories
Gyldendal, Copenhagen 1994
Under sten
(Under Stones)
Short stories
Gyldendal, Copenhagen 1989