The motivation highlights that in times when the boundary between fact and fiction is challenged, Jan Grue shows "how an autobiographical work can take advantage of all the novel's possibilities: it is heartbreaking, unguarded and analytical in a way that requires precision in design and a confident stylistic hand."

Jan Grue made his debut in 2010 with the short story collection

Alt under trol

  and has written novels, short story collections, children's and fact books.

His autobiographical non-fiction book

I live a life similar to theirs

was nominated in 2019 for the Nordic Council Literature Prize.

Per Olov Enquist's prize was established by Enquist's publishers on his seventieth birthday in 2004 and is awarded jointly by Norstedts, the author's foreign publisher and Bok & Bibliotek. The prize money is 5,000 euros.