Åsne Seierstad and guests

Åsne Seierstad is the first Norwegian author to receive the Brage Prize, the Booksellers’ Prize, and the Critics’ Prize for the same book. Ufred, along with her earlier works, has reached a wide readership. We celebrate this achievement with an event that combines an in‑depth conversation, a mini‑concert, and a dialogue between Seierstad and her Ukrainian colleague, Sofija Andrukhovych. Simen Ekern will host and moderate the evening. The Role of Literature in Wartime: Responsibility and Ethical Dilemmas A conversation with Åsne Seierstad and Sofija Andrukhovych Following Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine, the war has raised difficult questions within the cultural sphere as well: Should Russian culture be boycotted, and what happens to a shared literary heritage when it is pushed aside? At the same time, culture is actively used by the state to support the narratives of war. Where do we draw the line between art and propaganda, between responsibility and silence? In this conversation, Åsne Seierstad and Ukrainian writer Sofija Andrukhovych discuss the role of literature and culture in times of war. 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