Lars Saabye Christensen

Lars Saabye Christensen (b. 1953) is one of Norway’s most distinguished and cherished authors, and a central name in modern Scandinavian literature. While better known for his long novels, he made his debut with the poetry collection History of Gly (1976), for which he was awarded the Tarjei Vesaas' First Writer award. The next year, Saabye Christensen published his first novel, The Amateur. He has since claimed that all his novels could in fact have had this title. People who struggle with inner insecurities and a lack of clarity in their own lives, who don't show up professionally or well-prepared in life’s many situations, but who stumble away in the wrong direction – these are the characters for which the author's love is ever-recurring. 

Saabye Christensen's breakthrough came with Beatles (1984). One of the best-selling literary titles in Norwegian history, the novel has continued to captivate new generations of young readers. In 2001, Saabye Christensen published his epic masterpiece The Half Brother : An extraordinarily generous and moving novel that became an international success, winning the Nordic Council Literature Prize. The series Echoes of the City, Published between 2017-2021, is another highlight of Saabye Christensen's authorship. These novels were met with exceptional criticism and reached a massive readership, selling over 220,000 copies in Norway alone. Saabye Christensen has written over 70 titles, won numerous prizes and awards, and has been translated into 36 languages.

A towering and rich bibliography

The jury's statement recognised Saabye's prolific and varied bibliography, and how important a role he has played in introducing new generations to reading and to literature.

«This year's honorary prize award goes to an author with a towering and rich bibliography.

An authorship that consists of nearly 70 publications and that covers a very wide range of genres. Poems, novels, drama, short stories, song lyrics, children's books and non-fiction - always with high literary quality and precision, and that reaches a large audience.

Being an author is fundamentally lonely, probably also in this case, but artistic collaboration has always been central to this authorship, be it with other authors, illustrators, actors, musicians, visual artists or directors. This has contributed to diverse artistic expressions for many over several decades, to the great joy of many.

At the same time, the author has made a significant contribution to Norwegian literature through a genuine effort to help new talents emerge.

In our time, where reading is under pressure, it can safely be said that this author has a uniquely important position in contemporary Norwegian literature by repeatedly recruiting and exciting new generations of readers with timeless, universal and captivating storytelling. Whether it is about backpacks, music, hair, hair loss, time, umbrellas, addresses, cats, friendship, outsiders, cities or bananas.

The Brage Honorary Prize 2024 is awarded to an outstanding author who, since his debut in 1976, has showered almost the entire population of Norway with a sea of ​​large and small thought-provoking reading experiences.

As he himself has said:

"If literature did not exist, many thoughts would remain invisible."

Congratulations, Lars Saabye Christensen!»

The Brage Prize

The Brage Honorary Prize goes to a person or institution who, in their work as a writer, translator or otherwise, have made a significant contribution to increase the reach and understanding of literature, or to heighten the quality of the written word in Norwegian. It is one of the highest distinctions a Norwegian author can receive.