J.K. Rowling receives literary award and is compared to iconic story teller Hans Christian Andersen

The author of the hugely successful Harry Potter series has been announced as the recipient of the inaugural H.C. Andersen Literature Prize.

The British author is coming to Odense, the birth place of the Danish fairytale writer, next year to accept the award, reports Fyens Stiftstidende newspaper.

Danish-Brazilian businessman Jens Olesen is a member of the H.C. Andersen Advisory Board, which is behind the award, and said that he was delighted Rowling would be able to accept the literature prize in person.

‘Next year might seem like a long way off, but we have to prepare well if we really want to get one of the biggest writers of our time to the city,’ said Olesen.

The literature prize is to be awarded to someone who can directly or indirectly be compared with Hans Christian Andersen.

Rowling has sold more than 400 million copies of her Harry Potter books and is often credited with encouraging a new generation of children to enjoy reading.

The 44-year-old author will receive the award in a ceremony on 19 October 2010.

The city already has a strong link to Rowling’s books and hosts an annual Harry Potter Festival, which transforms the City Hall into Hogwarts School for witches and wizards. The festival is run in conjunction with the public library to encourage children to read.

In addition to Olesen, the advisory board consists of Odense Mayor Jan Boye, editor Benny Nybo, Professor Johannes Nørregaard Frandsen, Gitte Bøgh Sørensen and Stig Nordestgaard.