Robert Menasse wins German Book Prize 2017
October 9, 2017
"The winner of the German Book Prize 2017 is Robert Menasse. He receives the honor for his novel, "Die Hauptstadt," Heinrich Riethmüller of the Foundation of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association said in Frankfurt on Monday evening.
Menasse's "Die Hauptstadt" takes place in the European capital of Brussels, a place where the Austrian author spent four years doing research. He takes a loving yet critical look at EU bureaucracy and human imperfections. It's a satire, analysis and crime story all wrapped into one – and a political commentary on the importance of Europe over national egotism.
"Die Hauptstadt" (Capital City) was chosen from a shortlist of six books, including Gerhard Falkner's "Romeo oder Julia" (Romeo or Juliet), Franzobel's "Das Floß der Medusa" (Medusa's Raft), Thomas Lehr's "Schlafende Sonne" (Sleeping Sun), Marion Poschmann's "Die Kieferninseln" (The Pine Islands), and Sasha Marianna Salzmann's "Außer sich" (Outside of Oneself).
Though the books are not yet available in English translation, their placement on the short list could ensure a deal with foreign publishers. While there is no unifying theme or criteria used for their selection – other than that the books were originally written in German – jury spokesperson Katja Gasser said those shortlisted all had one thing in common: "Bold thinking." Many of the novels also deal with the fact that the concept of Europe is currently at risk.
Read more: German Book Prize: loved and scorned
The author, who was announced just ahead of the Frankfurt Book Fair, will receive 25,000 euros (nearly $30,000), while each of the five finalists is awarded 2,500 euros.
The German Publishers and Booksellers Association's annual award was created in 2005 as a German-language equivalent of the Man Booker Prize or the Prix Goncourt. Deutsche Welle has been the media partner of the German Book Prize since 2006.
Last year, the award went to Bodo Kirchhoff, for "Widerfahrnis," a title which roughly translates as "encounter."
ct/eg (AFP, dpa)