‘In the shadow of a crime’ – Swedish winner of new European literature prize

“It is a powerful story that I think could have a wide readership throughout Europe”, said Minister for EU Affairs Cecilia Malmström when she participated in an event in Stockholm on Monday to introduce the presentation of the European Union Prize for Literature. The Swedish winner of the prize, which is being awarded for the first time this year, is author Helena Henschen for her debut novel ’I skuggan av ett brott' (In the shadow of a crime) from 2004.

“It is fantastic to receive the prize, especially for this book”, said the touched prize winner at the event held at Kulturhuset in Stockholm.

Based on a true story

‘I skuggan av ett brott’ is based on a true story. It is about the ‘von Sydow murders’, in which Henschen’s mother lost her entire family at the age of 15. The event was taboo during Helena Henschen’s childhood, since even the murderer came from within their own family.
“We learn that time heals all grief, but that doesn’t apply to a trauma like this one”, she explained. “It was difficult to investigate something that was so emotionally charged and forbidden.”

Prize-giving in September

Helena Henschen and her book were selected by a jury made up of representatives of authors, publishers and booksellers. The prize-giving will take place at the European Commission’s Culture Forum in Brussels on 28 September.

Helena Henschen has a background in graphic design and has previously written and illustrated children's books.

At the event, the author and the Minister for EU Affairs also participated in a discussion with author and literature critic Gabriella Håkansson and author Jan Arnald, known by his pseudonym Arne Dahl.

Prize funded by EU Culture Programme

The European Union Prize for Literature is funded by the EU Culture Programme 2007–2013 and is awarded to promising fiction authors from eleven or twelve of the countries that participate in the programme. Each winner receives EUR 5 000. This year, the prize winners come from Sweden, Austria, Croatia, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal and Slovakia.

Along with the year’s twelve winners, the Swedish author Henning Mankell has also been appointed ambassador for the prize.