Åsne Seierstad and guests

Åsne Seierstad is the first Norwegian author to have received the Brage Prize, the Norwegian Booksellers’ Prize, and the Critics’ Prize for one and the same book. With “Ufred” and an extensive body of work, she has reached a wide readership. This will be marked with an evening featuring a close-up portrait, a mini concert, and a panel discussion. In the panel discussion, Seierstad is joined by the award winning Ukrainian author Sofija Andrukhovytsj and the award-winning Polish journalist and writer Witold Szabłowski. Together they reflect on the role of literature in times of war: responsibility, silence, propaganda, and resistance. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has put cultural life to the test. Is it right to boycott Russian art and literature? Where is the line between art and propaganda — between testimony and ethical responsibility? The conversation will be moderated by Simen Ekern, foreign affairs commentator at Dagens Næringsliv. Mini‑concert with Ingrid Olava Close‑up: Åsne Seierstad in conversation with Simen Ekern about Ufred Europe is once again marked by war, unrest, and political upheaval. In this conversation, Simen Ekern meets Åsne Seierstad for a deeper exploration of Ufred and of what prolonged conflict does to people and societies. Drawing on her documentary work and intimate portrayals of life amid the realities of war, the conversation centers on frontlines and everyday life, fear and resistance, and how war shapes the stories we live by. Moderator and host for the evening: Foreign affairs commentator for Dagens Næringsliv, Simen Ekern