Literary Prize Hat Trick

When the most prestigious national literary awards for Finland, Norway and Sweden were given out in November, Bonnier authors won in five categories.

Finnish book publisher Tammi took home both the Finlandia Junior and the Finlandia Prize. Maria Turtschaninoff won for her book Maresi, in the category best children’s and YA book. Author Jussi Valtonen was awarded the Finlandia Prize for He eivät tiedä mitä tekevät (They know not what they do). The prize is given out by the Finnish Book Foundation and is the country’s most prestigious literary honor. The prize is worth EUR 30,000.

In Norway, Annette Münch of Cappelen Damm, which is owned jointly by Bonnier and Egmond, won the Brage Prize for best children’s and YA book with Badboy: Steroid. The book is about body fixation, that affects even young boys. The year’s Award of Honor went to Vigdis Hjorth, with the jury writing: “for personally staking a lot on behalf of literature, she has dared much and shown herself to be extremely brave.”

In Sweden, the August Prize was awarded to Lars Lerin in the non-fiction category for his book Naturlära (Natural learning), published by Albert Bonniers Förlag. The winner of Swedish children’s and YA book of the year was Jakob Wegelius for Mördarens apa (The Murderer’s Ape) published by Bonnier Carlsen. The prizes were given out during the August Prize Ceremony, held at Stockholm’s Concert Hall. Each category prize is worth SEK 100,000.