Benjamin Dove (1992) (2024)

Fridrik Erlingsson

Winner — IBBY

Winner — Icelandic Children's Book Award

Winner — Reykjavik City Children's Book Award

Winner — IBBY Honour List

1992

177 pages

Children's Books

9-12 years

13+ years

Benjamin Dove (1992) (2024)

As an adult, Benjamin reflects on a childhood summer that forever changed his life. That summer, his new friend Roland, seemingly descended from the knights of the past, inspired him to stand up for himself and for those he loves. Together, they and their friends formed the Order of the Red Dragon, which gave them a sense of identity and purpose in their turbulent world. What began as innocent childhood games was ultimately shattered by an almost inevitable tragedy.

A brilliantly conceived fiction, blending light and dark humor, exploring themes of bullying, child abuse, and gang rivalry while showcasing a child's unbreakable spirit. Benjamin Dove has won several awards, including the IBBY, the Icelandic Children's Book Award, and the Reykjavik City Children's Book Award. It was nominated for the Nordic Council Children and Young People’s Literature Prize and adapted into an award-winning feature film at eight international festivals. This timeless story delves into enduring and poignant themes, cementing its status as a modern classic.

Reviews

Best-selling, distinguished children's book.

THE NEW YORK TIMES

The story unfolds lyrically and retrospectively in Benjamin’s voice, occasionally shifting into other characters’ perspectives. With its redemptive ending, this moving novel reaches across place and time to evoke the complexities of friendship, retribution and the loss of innocence.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Benjamin Dove is a powerful, complex, deftly realized nostalgia piece.

DENNIS HARVEY, VARIETY

Benjamin Dove is... fantastically well thought out and written, and at the same time, it is an extremely exciting children's book.

TMM

Benjamin Dove carries a golden message about the value of friendship, respecting honest rules and fair play.

SELECTION COMMITTEE'S SUMMARY THE REYKJAVIK CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD

An innovative and memorable story which is also exciting and well composed. Fridrik Erlingsson is a very articulate author.

SELECTION COMMITTEE'S SUMMARY THE ICELANDIC CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD

Fridrik Erlingsson is undoubtedly well worthy of the award [The Icelandic Children's Book Award]. Benjamin Dove is one of the best children's books published in Iceland for a long time.

DV NEWSPAPER

The story is never simplistic, due to the strength of the narrative mode and the characterization. The boys' characters are especially well formed, many-sided and truthful. Gradually they become representatives of certain types, growing as individuals at the same time. ... Benjamin Dove is a story about maturity; a story about paradise lost, when the young lose their innocence and nothing will ever be the same again. ... A brilliantly well conceived and written work of fiction and at the same time an exciting children's book. The conflict between good and bad creates a tension which becomes all the more poignant, as the good isn't all good and tolerant. ... This story affects the reader deeply. As a children's book, Benjamin Dove is a very good book indeed. It's an eventful story, funny and full of vigour, but it also has emotional and intellectual depth and a remarkable reference to our past and cultural background.

SILJA ADALSTEINSDOTTIR a leading authority on Icelandic literature

The story is very exciting from beginning to end. The boys' life is eventful, the plot is cleverly crafted, the characters are vivid and clearly drawn, nobody's entirely black or white in this book. We read about merciless reality, where nothing is withheld, but problems are nevertheless dealt with in a warm and understanding way. Benjamin Dove has no beginner's touch about it. It's an exceptional debut, an honest and enchanting story that leaves the reader deeply moved.

MORGUNBLADID DAILY

An unusual and exciting book.

PRESSAN WEEKLY

Mr. Erlings certainly knows how to make the reader think. Benjamin Dove is a sensitive and quite unusual book.

NEWSADEMIC.COM

Awards

Won

IBBY
Icelandic Children's Book Award
Reykjavik City Children's Book Award
IBBY Honour ListExact year not stated in source

Nominated

Nordic Council Children and Young People's Literature Prize

Rights Sold

Translation rights sold

DenmarkSesam

Faroe IslandsBókadeildin

FinlandOtava

ItalyMondadori

LithuaniaGimtasis Zodis

SloveniaGrlica

SwedenBonnier/Carlsen

UKAlbury

USNorth-South Books