Photo: Toni Härkönen
Sofi Oksanen awarded the Bjørnson Prize 2025
Sofi Oksanen is the recipient of the 2025 Bjørnson Prize. Oksanen is prized for her “epic authorship and commitment to human rights, and for keenly portraying the realities faced by women, both in times of war and peace”. The jury further states:
“At the core of Sofi Oksanen’s authorship is a brave and uncompromising humanism. She writes about oppression, abuse of power, and injustice, and uses her public voice and position to speak clearly and directly about freedom of expression, human rights, and political freedom. /…/ With her unique blend of historical insight, engagement, psychological depth, and literary innovation, Oksanen has created a body of work that both enriches and challenges readers. Her ability to convey complex themes through epic works has gained her a wide readership and international recognition.”
The Bjørnson Prize is annually awarded to a Nordic author who works in the spirit of Norwegian Nobel laureate Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, both in their literary work and social engagement.
The prize will be awarded at the Norwegian Festival of Literature on June 3rd, where Oksanen will also hold a lecture.