Enquist was honoured for his book The Visit of the Royal Physician, the story of a revolutionary English princess in 18th century Denmark.

He shares the prize with the book's translator, Tiina Nunnally.

The award, sponsored by The Independent newspaper and supported by Arts Council England, is for a work of fiction by a living author translated into English and published in the UK.

Boyd Tonkin, the Independent's literary editor, said Enquist was a "star" of European fiction.

He described the winning novel as "bold, humane and utterly gripping".

Enquist, born in 1934 in northern Sweden, is one of his country's most distinguished authors.

A novelist, playwright and poet, his works have been translated into more than 20 languages.

Six books were shortlisted from 67 entries for the prize, including works by Jos� Carlos Somoza, Jos� Saramago and Peter Stephan Jungk.