The prizes were awarded in the Vulkan arena on Thursday evening. The council for the Brage prize characterizes Lars Saabye Christensen as “an outstanding writer”.
He made his debut in 1973, has a catalog of close to 70 publications that embrace both poems, novels, plays, short stories, song lyrics, children’s books and non-fiction.
– In the times we live in, where reading is under pressure, it can be safely said that this writing has a particularly important position in Norwegian contemporary literature by repeatedly recruiting and exciting new generations of readers with timeless, universal and captivating storytelling, writes the Brage Council.
His many collaborations and efforts to help new writing talents are also highlighted.
Novel winner with meta level
The winners of four of this year’s award categories were women, who – with the exception of the children’s book – dealt with various issues of current social interest.
Katrine Nedrejord won the Brage prize in the category for fiction with “Sameproblemet”.
There, the author, himself Sami, tackled Sami for the first time in an adult book.
“The tone is irreverent, doubting, proud and hurtful and bitterly pissed off at the same time. The book does not do Norway much credit as a state, and after reading this book, the stinging blows against the body of society feel well-deserved”, writes the jury – who also highlight “an interesting meta-level in the text”.
Read also: Nominated for the Brage award for youth book: – We must celebrate our youth! (+)
Nonfiction about Afghanistan
Ayesha Wolasmal won in the non-fiction category with “A thousand days with the Taliban”. There, according to the jury, she shows how you can use the written word to talk about big themes such as family, human dignity, flight, war and peace:
“It is riveting and tenderly told about a country that has been in continuous war and conflict for over 40 years,” says Wolasmal’s portrayal of the steadfastness of ordinary people.
According to the jury, the winner manages to write about both war and the plight of girls and women in the world in “a fantastic and thought-provoking way”.
Review: Erika Fatland’s “The Sailor”: With spices in her nose and blood on her hands (+)
Escape stories won the Brage award
For over 20 years, Kristina Quintano has documented the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean. In the book “Flukt” she shares eleven young people’s stories about the journey, the escape and the hope – and it brought in the Brage prize in the non-fiction category for children and young people.
“The book is a fistful of a contribution to being able to see a world made up of people, not borders,” writes the jury.
Children’s book lover with joy
According to the jury, this year’s winning book in the children’s and youth books category is “like childhood itself: A good mix of ordinary everyday life and wild joy”.
Kristine Rui Slettebakken and the illustrator Nora Brech won with “Billie and Bo og den heidundrendes jula”, which is written with storytelling joy and the ability to turn life from boring to fun, from gray to sparkling.
“Where it is dark, imagination and ingenuity can bring light and laughter into the strangest nooks and crannies. And when it’s dark, it’s the stories that save us,” the explanation goes on to say.
Read also: The bookseller prize for Erika Fatland’s travelogue
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Brage prize 2024
* The Brage Prize has been awarded annually since 1992 and aims to honor Norwegian literature and writing.
* The Norwegian Book Prize Foundation stands behind it.
* Distributed in the classes fiction, children’s and youth books, non-fiction and non-fiction for children and young people.
* This year’s winners: Kathrine Nedrejord/”Same problem” (fiction), Kristine Rui Slettebakken and illustrator Nora Brech/”Billie and Bo og den heidundrande’s Christmas” (children’s and youth books), Ayesha Wolasmal/”Tusen dager med Taliban” (non-fiction) , Kristina Quintano/”Flukt” (non-fiction for children and young people).
* This year’s honorary award went to Lars Saabye Christensen.
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