Jo Nesbø, 19th Pepe Carvalho Prize

One of the highlights of every BCNegra Festival is the Pepe Carvalho Award ceremony. The event will take place on Thursday 8 February in the afternoon at the Saló de Cent of Barcelona City Hall, and, in what will be the 19th edition, the award will be received by the Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø.

The jury of the Prize considers that “since the beginning of his literary career, Nesbø has demonstrated a solvency, ambition and narrative generosity that has made his readers addicted to everything he publishes”.

“In a book by Nesbø we always have one, two, three lines of argument, an accurate documentation that reminds us more of a curious spirit than a functionary of writing, the necessary dose of intrigue, action and psychology of the characters, as well as a look at his society that does not skimp on criticism of the open wounds of a past that not everyone wants to accept”, explains the jury with reference to the books of Harry Hole’s father, his most emblematic character, a loyal, unfaithful, individualistic, unstable, honest and obstinate policeman.

The members of the jury also state that the award to Jo Nesbø is also intended as a tribute to Nordic literature, which, from Henning Mankell to Maj Sjöwall and Stieg Larsson, Per Wahlöön, Arnaldur Indriðason or Karin Fossum, have delighted so many readers of the genre and have made them travel through their stories to the landscapes and conflicts of their countries.

The writer will talk the next day, also as part of BCNegra, with journalist Xavier Bundó, followed by a screening of the film The Snowman (2017), directed by Tomas Alfredson and based on a book by Nesbø.

All the information about BCNegra, on the official website.