Elisabeth Åsbrink

Elisabeth Åsbrink is a writer and journalist based in Stockholm and Copenhagen. In her essays and reviews of books, published in both Swedish and Danish press, she focuses on the aftermath of WW2 and deals with memory and oblivion.

In September 2020 her first novel will be released, the autobiographical family story Övergivenheten (”Abandonment”). Three women, three cities, one family.

Her latest non-fiction book, Made in Sweden, deals with the Swedish culture and self-image.

The non-fiction book, 1947 – When now begins, was published simultaneously in Sweden, Denmark and Norway in 2016 and recieved a prize from the Royal Swedish Academy. Elisabeth Åsbrink was nominated for the August Prize for her first three books and won the August Prize for best non-fiction book 2011 for And in Vienna the trees still remain. In addition to the August Prize, the book has been awarded the Danish-Swedish Cultural Foundation Culture Award in 2013, and Rychard Kapuscinski Award for best literary reportage in 2013, with the following motivation:

” Through an intimate story about a Jewish boy trying to escape extermination and looking for shelter in Sweden, Elisabeth Åsbrink tells a universal story. Story of people who, while convinced of their own virtue and responsibility, may contribute to a crime. By bringing back Europe’s very recent and very ignominious past, the author awakens readers’ sensitivity to a drama taking place before our very eyes; the drama of refugees in contemporary world. ”

Elisabeth Åsbrink’s works are translated and published in more than 20 countries. 

AWARDS

2010 Jarl Alfredius minnesstipendium
2013 The August Prize for best Non fiction
2013 Dansk-svensk Kulturfonds kulturpris
2013 Ryszard Kapuściński Award for Literary Reportage
2016 Letterstedtska författarpriset
2017 Freedom Pen Prize (Torgny Segerstedt Foundation)

SOCIAL MEDIA

Web: www.elisabethasbrink.se 
Facebook: Elisabeth Åsbrink