The jury's motivation points to an authorship marked by absolute pitch, Scanian excesses, and burlesque warmth, according to the Helsingborgs Dagblad jury. Maria Maunsbach had her breakthrough in 2022 with the novel 'Lucky Lada och jag' (Lucky Lada and I). In that book, she returned to her childhood home of Höör.
According to SVT Kultur, Maria Maunsbach described having a similar approach to Höör as Hasse Alfredson had to Tomelilla, in how they use and depict places and the people who live there. She believes it is primarily this novel, written in the spirit of Fritiof Nilsson Piraten, that contributed to her receiving the prize. The Hasse Prize is being awarded for the fourth time.
I believe I have a similar approach to Höör as Hasse had to Tomelilla, in how we use and depict places and the people who live there.
Previous recipients are Uje Brandelius, Gabriela Pichler, and Thomas Öberg. The exact monetary value or other benefits of the prize have not been disclosed. Details about when and where the award ceremony will take place remain unknown.
The members of the Helsingborgs Dagblad jury that selected Maunsbach have also not been publicly named.