Odense (Denmark): Indian-born British author Salman Rushdie received on Sunday a literary award named after Denmark`s famous poet and fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen.
The HC Andersen Literature Award was presented by Danish Crown Princess Mary at the Concert Hall of Odense, which is Denmark`s third largest city and the hometown to Andersen.
Rushdie also received 500,000 Danish kroner (about 90,000 dollars) and a statue of "Ugly Duckling", created by Danish sculptor Stine Ring Hansen, Xinhua reported.
According to the literature award`s committee, Rushdie received the award "due to the fact that he is an incomparable author, who through a blend of global realism and fairytale fantasy depicts the significance of journeys and cultural meetings for our time, and thus enriches world literature".
Rushdie said Andersen`s work had always fascinated him and stimulated his own imagination both as a young reader and as an adult.
Established in 2010, the HC Andersen Literature Award is a Danish international literary prize to celebrate Andersen`s influence on writers throughout the world.
Previous winners include Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho, J.K. Rowling and Chilean born writer Isabel Allende.
Located some 160 km west of Copenhagen on Denmark`s second largest island of Funen, Odense is hometown to Andersen, who left for Copenhagen at 14 to seek employment there.
IANS
First Published: Monday, August 18, 2014, 11:33
