The Brage Prize was awarded at Vulkan in Oslo on Thursday evening, where Culture Minister Lubna Jaffery (Ap) was among the presenters. This year, women dominated among the nominees.
– This year’s honor award goes to an author with an impressive and rich bibliography. A body of work consisting of nearly 70 publications that spans a remarkably wide range of genres, states the jury’s justification.
Lars Saabye Christensen (71) has written poetry, novels, plays, short stories, song lyrics, children’s books, and nonfiction. Always with high literary quality and precision, resonating with a large audience, they write.
– The Brage Prize’s honor award for 2024 is given to an extraordinary author who, since their debut in 1976, has overwhelmed nearly the entire population of Norway with an abundance of both significant and minor thought-provoking reading experiences.
The entire crowd at Vulkan stood up as Saabye Christensen took the stage.
– Fifty years ago, I stood on Karl Johan selling poetry. I had no plans back then, except that I would not spend my entire life selling poetry, but I was determined to sell poetry because I could do nothing else, said Saabye Christensen to loud applause from the audience.
In his acceptance speech, he declared that the novel is not dead; on the contrary, before saying that if one looks closely, one can spot a generational shift in Norwegian literature. He concluded his speech simply with a short, self-written poem:
“Before I was happy, now I’m in a better mood.”
– Whip strokes against the body of society
– (…) a book that eventually uses an outer voice, writes the Brage Prize jury about this year’s winner of the fiction prize, “Sameproblemet” by Kathrine Nedrejord.
The Dagbladet reviewer gave the book a top score of six, calling it a Sámi indictment against the oppression, invisibility, mockery, and racism of the Norwegian majority society.
– The book does not leave Norway as a state with much honor, and after reading this book, the stinging whip strokes against the body of society feel well-deserved, they write.
If it hadn’t been for the publisher, she said, she would never have managed to publish her last books. Earlier this fall, Nedrejord won the October Prize of 150,000 kroner for “Sameproblemet.”
This year’s winner in the nonfiction category is Ayesha Wolasmals “Tusen dager med Taliban.” The book deals with the time when the Taliban conquered Kabul in 2021, and the world exited Afghanistan.
Wolasmal lived in the country and tells through unique access to Taliban leaders and people throughout the country what happened when the world community’s attention faded.
– It is grippingly and tenderly narrated about a country that has been in constant war and conflict for over 40 years. It is an empathetic and warm depiction of ordinary people’s steadfastness, writes the Brage jury.
– Before, when I said Afghanistan, people only thought of war and misery. Now when I say Afghanistan, I hope people think of love, flowers, and friends, said Wolasmal from the stage.
Inside Taliban
She highlighted her family, a “wild family that are social clients,” and told that they are so much, much more than that. She also thanked her mother, who was present in the audience.
– Mom is here today, in a fantastic sequin dress, said Wolasmal, before she displayed a picture of her hero; her father.
– He’s probably turning in his grave now, but we did it!
The gems kept coming in her speech which, according to Wolasmal, was completely improvised.
– Behind every good author, there is a mullah named Ivar, joked Wolasmal from the stage, while thanking editor Ivar Ivarsen at Kagge Publishing.
BLOW: Kristina Quintano’s book on escape makes an impact, according to the jury. Photo: NTB
Giving a Voice to Youth on the Run
The first prizewinner of the evening is author Kristina Quintano, who wins the Brage Prize in the nonfiction category for children and youth with the book “Flukt.”
– The author has given a face and a voice to youth who are on the run. The text allows for reflection and contemplation, states the Brage jury.
The jury further notes that the winner has a thoughtful and well-functioning structure in the book, providing a good understanding of how the world works, or doesn’t work.
– The biggest thanks go to the youth who wanted you to know, said Quintano from the stage, thanking the young people on the run who agreed to be interviewed for the book.
These are the nominees:
The nominees in the “Nonfiction” category:
Ayesha Wolasmal: Tusen dager med Taliban (Kagge)
Inger Skjelsbæk: Sarajevos Roser (Press)
Terje Øiesvold: Fra Nord. Nordkalottens billedhistorie (Orkana)
Marit Beate Kasin: Naturparadokset. Om naturen vi mister og hvordan vi kan få den tilbake (Res Publica)
The nominees in the “Fiction” category:
Kathrine Nedrejord: Sameproblemet (Oktober)
Heidi Furre: Technotika (Flamme)
Malin C. M. Rønning: Det tolvte huset (Oktober)
Brynjulf Jung Tjønn: Norsk kjærleik (Cappelen Damm)
The nominees in the “Children’s and Young People’s Books” category:
Tyra Teodora Tronstad: Løgner som lyser (Aschehoug)
Kjersti Synneva Moen: Selma gjør så godt hun kan (Aschehoug)
Per Dybvig: De står i kø (Aschehoug)
Kristine Rui Slettebakken and Nora Brech (ill.): Billie og Bo og den heidundrandes jula (Gyldendal)
The nominees in the “Nonfiction for Children and Young People” category:
Kristina Quintano: Flukt (Vigmostad & Bjørke)
Reidar Müller and Sigbjørn Lilleeng (ill.): Livet er livsfarlig! (Aschehoug)
Kari Saanum and Signe Torp (ill.): Barna i fabrikkbyen – Arbeiderliv i Kristiania 1890 (Orkana)
Sarah Herlofsen and Fredrik Edén (ill.): En dag i ungdomskroppen (Herosa AS)
Source: Brageprisen
– The stories that save us
The Brage Prize has been awarded annually since 1992 and is considered one of the most prestigious literary prizes in the country. The prizes aim to honor Norwegian literature and authorship.
In the category of children’s and young people’s books, Kristine Rui Slettebakken and Nora Brech are the winners of this year’s Brage Prize for the book “Billie and Bo og den heidundrandes jula.”
– This year’s winning book is like childhood itself, writes the jury, continuing:
– A good mix of ordinary everyday life and wild joy. The winning book nods to the stories of previous times, to durable classics from other great storytellers.
The Brage jury writes that imagination and inventiveness can bring light and laughter into the strangest corners where it is dark.
– And when it is dark, it is the stories that save us.
– “Shit man”! exclaimed Kristine Rui Slettebakken when she approached the microphone on stage, together with Nora Brech.
– I’m really shaking. Thank you so much to the jury, Nora for bringing to life the two types I worked with in the book. Everything you touch becomes so beautiful, said Slettebakken, before thanking, among others, the Norwegian Institute for Children’s Books and everyone who worked on the book.
– Never been this close
This year, the Brage Prize was awarded in the categories of nonfiction, fiction, children and young people’s literature, and nonfiction for children and young people.
In addition to this, the Brage Prize’s honor award is given to a person or institution that has contributed to increasing the dissemination of or understanding of literature, or to raising the quality of Norwegian written culture.
The honor award has previously been given to, among others, Ingvar Ambjørnsen, Vigdis Hjort, Jon Fosse, Anne Cath. Vestly, and Dag Solstad.
Been recognized for their impactful narratives, contributing to important conversations in society.
Des jula.” This book has been praised for its creativity and ability to resonate with young readers, depicting themes of friendship and adventure.
The Brage Prize, established in 1992, is one of Norway’s most prestigious literary awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to Norwegian literature in various categories, including fiction, nonfiction, and children’s literature. The awards celebrate not just established authors but also emerging voices, showcasing a diverse range of stories and experiences.
In the nonfiction category, Ayesha Wolasmal’s “Tusen dager med Taliban” brings attention to the human stories behind political upheaval and conflict, while Kristina Quintano’s “Flukt” offers insight into the journeys of young people fleeing their circumstances, highlighting their resilience and humanity. Both authors have