IP/10/1289
Brussels, 6 October 2010
Winners of the EU Prize for Literature announced at Frankfurt Book Fair
The European Commission announced the winning authors of the 2nd annual European Union Prize for Literature at the Frankfurt Book Fair today. The prize aims to draw attention to new talents and to promote the publication of their books in different countries, as well as celebrating European cultural diversity. The 11 winning authors were selected by national juries in Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. They will receive their prize from Androulla Vassiliou, the Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, during a ceremony on 18 November in Brussels.
Commissioner Vassiliou said: "I am delighted to announce this year's winners and I hope that the prize will open up the possibility of their works being translated and reaching a wider readership beyond their home country. Once they are translated and promoted, their books can also provide content for film, television and theatre and contribute to the success of our cultural and creative industries.''
The European Union Prize for Literature is funded by the EU Culture Programme, the European Booksellers Federation, the European Writers' Council and the Federation of European Publishers. Each winning author receives € 5 000.
The countries entitled to nominate the winning authors changes each year, so that all 35 countries participating in the programme are represented over a three-year period.
Europe's cultural and linguistic diversity is a tremendous asset, but it also presents challenges. For example, the European Union has 23 official languages, around 60 regional and minority languages, and uses 3 alphabets (Latin, Cyrillic and Greek).
Every year, numerous new European writers get their works published nationally but only a few of them see their books translated into another European language which can potentially help them reach the 550 million people living within the EU.
The EU Culture Programme also offers financial support for the translation of literary works. Since 2007, it has provided €8.5 million to facilitate the translation of 1 500 books.
The winners of the European Union Prize for Literature 2010 are:
BELGIUM
Peter Terrin
Book: De Bewaker (2009)
Publishing house: De Arbeiderspers
CYPRUS
Myrto Azina Chronides
Book: To Peirama (2009)
Publishing house: Armida Publications
DENMARK
Adda Djørup
Book: Den mindste modstand (2009)
Publishing house: Samleren
ESTONIA
Tiit Aleksejev
Book: Palveränd (2008)
Publishing house: Varrak
FINLAND
Riku Korhonen
Book: Lääkäriromaani (2008)
Publishing house: Sammakko
GERMANY
Iris Hanika
Book: Das Eigentliche (2010)
Publishing house: Droschl Verlag
LUXEMBOURG
Jean Back
Book: Amateur (2009)
Publishing house: Ultimondo
ROMANIA
Răzvan Rădulescu
Book: Teodosie cel Mic (2006)
Publishing house: Polirom
SLOVENIA
Nataša Kramberger
Book: Nebesa v Robidah (2007)
Publishing house: Javni sklad RS za ljubiteljske dejavnosti
SPAIN
Raquel Martínez-Gómez
Book: Sombros de unicornio (2007)
Publishing house: Algaida Editores
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Goce Smilevski
Book: Сестрата на Зигмунд Фројд (2007)
Publishing house: Kultura
More information
Culture Programme website:
http://ec.europa.eu/culture/our-programmes-and-actions/doc627_en.htm
European Prize for Literature: http://www.euprizeliterature.eu/
