Jussi Adler-Olsen

Jussi Adler-Olsen, 2012

Carl Valdemar Jussi Henry Adler-Olsen (born August 2, 1950) is a Danish writer of crime fiction, as well as a publisher, editor and entrepreneur.

Jussi Adler-Olsen made his debut as a non-fiction writer in 1984, and as a fiction writer in 1997.

Early life

Born in Copenhagen, he was the youngest of four children and the only boy. Son of the successful sexologist and psychiatrist Henry Olsen, he spent his childhood with his family in doctors' official residences at several mental hospitals across Denmark. In his late teens, he played in a couple of pop groups as lead guitarist. Graduated from high school in Rødovre (1970), 1970-78 he studied medicine, sociology (passed History of Modern Politics) and film making (exam.art.).

Business career

1970-78 – Managing director A/S Danergon (publishing rights)

1971-73 – Printer and foreman at Gutenberghus Dybtryk (in summer holidays)

1972-80 – While studying: ran a bookshop and imported movies, comics, non-fiction and posters

1978-83 – Editor and proofreader of magazines and comics

1981-83 – Organiser and part of the coordination team in the Danish Peace Movement

1983-84 – Composes music to the animated movie Valhalla together with Bent Hesselmann and Ron Goodwin

1984-89 – Independent publisher and owner of publishing house called Forlaget Donna

1987-89 - Freelance editor at Pressens Illustration Bureau

1990-93 - Managing director at Semic Interpresse A/S. Editor-in-chief of a publication a day

1993-95 - Publisher and primus motor in the Bonnier-owner weekly magazine project the TV Guide

1995- - Full-time writer and dramatist

2002-2008: Member of the Board of Dansk Photovoltaik A/S

2003-2006: Chairman of the Board of Solarstocc AG, Kempten, Tyskland.

2004-2007: Chairman of the Board of DK Technologies A/S, Herlev.

2008-  : Managing director Dansk Photovoltaik A/S

2009-  : Managing director adlerolsen.dep ApS

2012-  : Managing director adlerolsen.energy A/S

2012-  : Managing director adlerolsen.games A/S

2013-  : Managing director adlerolsen.estate ApS

Literary career

1978-80 - Scriptwriter for Walter Lantz and for Disney comics in Denmark and the Netherlands

1980-85 – Originator, editor and publisher of the first comics dictionary published in Danish: Komiklex alias Dansk Tegneserie Leksikon, it is still being edited and updated and in print

1980-82 - Writes his first novel, Russisk Kabale, during a 6-months stay in the Netherlands. The novel will remain unpublished.

1984 - Translates Chants & Hoggs' "Atomkrig" (Nuclear War), among other works.

1984-85 - Author and publisher of two bestselling books about Groucho Marx.

1988-89 - Publisher of Fred på tryk, a bibliography of Danish Peace and Security policy literature

1995- - Full time writer and dramatist

Adler-Olsen's novels have been sold in more than 40 languages. Outside of Denmark he has enjoyed particular success in Norway, Germany and the Netherlands being a frequent visitor on the top of the bestseller lists e.g. on the New York Times Paperback bestseller list. Adler-Olsen's books have been on the bestseller lists in numerous other countries including Austria, Iceland, France, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Bibliography

Works by Jussi Adler-Olsen:

• Groucho & Co's groveste (in Danish). Valby, Denmark: Donna. 1984. ISBN 978-87-88287-00-4.
• Dansk tegneserieleksikon - den store Komiklex (in Danish). Valby, Denmark: Donna. 1985. ISBN 87-88287-12-2.
• Groucho: …en Marx Brother bag facaden (in Danish). Valby, Denmark: Donna. 1985. ISBN 978-87-88287-06-6.
• Videocounter (in Danish). Valby, Denmark: Donna. 1985. ISBN 978-87-88287-02-8.
• Alfabethuset (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Cicero. 1997. ISBN 978-87-7714-260-4.
• Firmaknuseren (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Lademanns Forlag. 2002. ISBN 978-87-567-8958-5.
• Firmaknuseren - later editions published by Politiken Og Hun Takkede Guderne (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Egmont Bogklubberne. 2003. ISBN 978-87-632-0237-4.
• Washington dekretet (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Aschehoug. 2006. ISBN 978-87-11-29222-8.
• Kvinden i buret (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Politiken. 2007. ISBN 978-87-567-8396-5.; English translation: The Keeper of Lost Causes (US), Mercy (UK), 2011 [= Department Q Vol. 1]
• Fasandræberne (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Politiken. 2008. ISBN 978-87-567-8727-7.; English translation: The Absent One (US), Disgrace (UK), 2012 [= Department Q Vol. 2]
• Flaskepost fra P. (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Politiken. 2009. ISBN 978-87-7065-539-2.; English translation: A Conspiracy of Faith (US), Redemption (UK), 2013 [= Department Q Vol. 3]
• Journal 64 (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Politiken. 2010. ISBN 978-87-567-9545-6.; English translation: The Purity of Vengeance (US) 2013, Guilt (UK) 2013 [= Department Q Vol. 4]
• Små Pikante Drab published in the book Liv for Liv (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Politiken. 2011. ISBN 978-87-567-9791-7.
• Marco Effekten (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Politiken. ISBN 978-87-567-9906-5.; English translation: The Marco Effect (US) 2014, Buried (UK) 2015 [= Department Q Vol. 5]
• Den Grænseløse (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Politiken. ISBN 978-87-400-0859-3.; English translation: The Hanging Girl (2015) [= Department Q Vol. 6]
• Selfies (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Politiken.; English translation: TBD [= Department Q Vol. 7]

Works in English translation:

• Kvinden i buret [= Department Q Vol. 1]
  • published in the UK as Mercy — (2011). Mercy. Translated by Lisa Hartford. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-139996-6. OCLC 698332240.
  • published in the United States as The Keeper of Lost Causes — (2011). The Keeper of Lost Causes. Translated by Lisa Hartford. New York: Dutton. ISBN 978-0-525-95248-0. OCLC 703207340.
• Fasandræberne [= Department Q Vol. 2]
  • published in the UK as Disgrace — (2012). Disgrace. Translated by K.E. Semmel. London: Michael Joseph Ltd. ISBN 978-0-71-815689-3.
  • published in the United States as The Absent One — (2012). The Absent One. Translated by K.E. Semmel. New York: Dutton. ISBN 978-0-525-95289-3. OCLC 703207340.
• Flaskepost fra P [= Department Q Vol. 3]
  • published in the UK as Redemption — (2013). Redemption. Translated by Martin Aitken. Translation consultant: Steve Schein. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-139999-7.
  • published in the United States as A Conspiracy of Faith — (2013). A Conspiracy of Faith. Translated by Martin Aitken. Translation consultant: Steve Schein. New York: Dutton. ISBN 978-0-525-95400-2.
• Journal 64 [= Department Q Vol. 4]
  • published in the UK as Guilt — (2014). Guilt. Translated by Martin Aitken. Translation consultant: Steve Schein. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-1-4059-0978-5.
  • published in the United States as The Purity of Vengeance — (2013). The Purity of Vengeance. Translated by Martin Aitken. Translation consultant: Steve Schein. New York: Dutton. ISBN 978-0-525-95401-9.
• Marco Effekten [= Department Q Vol. 5]
  • Published as The Marco Effect — (2014). The Marco Effect. Translated by Martin Aitken. New York: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-5259-5402-6.
• Den Grænseløse [= Department Q Vol. 6]
  • Published as The Hanging Girl — (2015). The Hanging Girl. Translated by William Frost. New York: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-5259 5494 1.
• Alfabethuset
  • Published as Alphabet House — (2014). Alphabet House. Translated by Steve Schein. London: Hesperus. ISBN 978-1-84391-544-7.

Film adaptations

Kvinden i buret was adapted into a Danish film by Zentropa in 2012, titled The Keeper of Lost Causes in English. It was the top box office film in Denmark in 2013. A sequel, a film adaptation of Fasandræberne (The Absent One in English), was released in 2014. Flaskepost fra P, (A Conspiracy of Faith in English), came out in 2016, also by Zentropa. All three films star Nikolaj Lie Kaas and Fares Fares.

Theater

Spidsrod a theater play in acts – finalist in a major drama competition DramaRama in April 2005. Århus Teater, the Katapult stage. Westfälisches Landestheater .^[1] in cooperation with Sabrina Ullrich has created a theater play based on ''Kvinden i Buret''. It premiered in Castrop-Rauxel on October 19, 2013.

Awards & Nominations

• 2010 - Harald Mogensen prize for Flaskepost fra P. Awarded by The Danish Academy of Crime for Best Danish Crime Fiction.
• 2010 - Glass Key award 2010 for Flaskepost fra P. Awarded by the Scandinavian Crime Society (Skandinaviska Kriminalsällskapet).^[2]
• 2010 - De beste thriller van het jaar 2010 for Vrouw in de Kooi in The Netherlands.
• 2010 - Læsernes Bogpris, Berlingske Tidende for Flaskepost fra P. Very prestigious Danish national newspaper. The award is given for all books, not for a sub category.
• 2011 - De Gyldne Laurbær 2011 for Journal 64. Awarded by the Society of Booksellers in Denmark.^[3]
• 2011 - Won 3rd place Der Leserpreis – die besten Buecher 2011 for Erlösung in Germany. It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favourite books for the annual Leserpreis.
• 2011 - Nominated Buchliebling 2011 for Schändung in Austria. (became no. 4)
• 2012 - Krimi Blitz Award 2011 for Flaskepost fra P. in Germany. Awarded by Krimi-couch.de on the basis of reader's vores.^[4]
• 2012 - Prix du Livre Robinsonnais, catégorie Policiers in France.^[5]
• 2012 - Danskernes Yndlingsforfatter (Bog & Ide) in Denmark. The favourite author of the year in Denmark 2011 as a result of a vote among readers carried out by the bookseller chain Bog & Ide.
• 2012 - The Sealed Room Award 2012 for Kvinden i Buret (The Keeper of Lost Causes) in Japan. Given by The Sealed Room Club.
• 2012 - Grand prix des lectrices de Elle in the category Policier 2012 awarded in France Kvinden i Buret - in French Misericorde.
• 2012 - The Barry Award Best Novel of 2012 for Kvinden i Buret - in the US The Keeper of Lost Causes.
• 2012 - Shortlisted to Der Leserpreis – die besten Buecher 2012 for Verachtung in Germany (The Purity of Vengeance) became no. 7. It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favourite books for the annual Leserpreis.
• 2013 - Danskernes Yndlingsforfatter (Bog & Ide) 2012 in Denmark. The favourite author of the year in Denmark 2013 as a result of a vote among readers carried out by the bookseller chain Bog & Ide.
• 2013 - Årets Lydbog for Flaskepost for P in Sweden. Swedish award for best audio book of the year for Q3.
• 2013 - Prix Plume du Thriller international' for Miséricorde (The Keeper of Lost Causes) – first place, which is called Plume d’or in France
• 2013 - Shortlisted to Der Leserpreis – die besten Buecher 2013 for Erwartung. (became no. 7). It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favourite books for the annual Leserpreis.
• 2013 - Nominated to the 2013 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.
• 2013 - Prix des Lecteurs catégorie Polar' (France) - awarded by Le Livre de Poche.
• 2013 - Martha Prisen 2013 (Bog & Ide - Denmark) - the favourite author of the year in Denmark 2013 as a result of a vote among readers carried out by the bookseller chain Bog & Ide.
• 2014 - Coup de cœur de La Griffe Noire (France) awarded during the pocketbook festival Saint-Maur en Poche June 21, 2014.
• 2014 - Nominated to The Barry Award Best Novel of 2014 for Flaskepost fra P - in US A Conspiracy of Faith.
• 2014 - Le Prix d'honneur Boréales/Région Basse-Normandie du polar nordique for Journal 64 in France. Awarded on November 29, 2014 in Caen, France.
• 2014/2015 - European Crime Fiction Star Award (Ripper Award) 2014/2015. Awarded on March 17, 2015 in Unna, Germany.
• 2015 - MIMI, dem Krimi-Publikumspreis des deutschen Buchhandels 2015 (Germany) for Erwartung - Marco Effekten.
• 2015 - Nominated to The Barry Award Best Novel of 2015 for Marco Effekten - in US the Marco Effect.
• 2015 - Nominated to Der Leserpreis Die Besten Bücher 2015 for "Verheissung" in the category "Krimi und Thriller". It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favourite books for the annual Leserpreis.^[6]
• 2016 - Mystery Lover's Book of the Year - CRIME Award 2015 for The Keeper of Lost Causes (US) - awarded by the Carondelet Branch Library (part of the St. Louis Public Library) St. Louis, Missouri, US.

See also

• Danish literature

References

1. "Link til Westfälisches Landestheater".
2. Olsen, Mette (19 June 2010). "Jussi Adler-Olsen vinder krimipris [Jussi Adler-Olsen detective novel wins award]". Politiken (in Danish). Retrieved 6 August 2010.
3. "Jussi Adler-Olsen vinder De Gyldne Laurbær [Jussi Adler-Olsen wins Golden Laurels]" (in Danish). Danish Broadcasting Corporation News. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 18 April 2011.
4. "Awarded by Krimi-couch.de".
5. "Prix du livre et du disque robinsonnais 2012".
6. "Awarded by LovelyBooks.de".

External links

• Official website
• Jussi Adler-Olsen Interview