Per Petterson rides 'Horses' to the literary forefront

Per Petterson
Per Petterson says like all his books "Out Stealing Horses" is about the relationship between a father and son. He says the success of the novel, winning two major international literary prizes, has been like a dream.
MPR photo/Euan Kerr

Per Petterson's book "Out Stealing Horses" catapulted the Norwegian author into the forefront of European literature.

It won the prestigious 2007 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. In winning the prize Petterson, beat out J.M. Coetzee, Jonathan Safran Foer, Cormac McCarthy and Salman Rushdie.

The win was also celebrated in the Twin Cities where Graywolf Press had signed a deal to publish the U.S. edition.

Petterson is in Minneapolis to read from the book. He says that like all of his books "Out Stealing Horses" is about the relationship between a father and son. He told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr he was inspired by a conversation with his father-in-law.