Isabel Allende

Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami on Nov. 17 won Denmark's top literary award, the Hans Christian Andersen Prize, following in the footsteps of such writers as J.K. Rowling and Salman Rushdie.

The award, named after Denmark's famous fairytale creator H.C. Andersen, comes with a cheque for 500,000 kroner (67,000 euros, $71,400).