German Book Prize 2014 for Lutz Seiler – www.dw.de

Thunderous applause and cheers in the festive Emperor at Frankfurt’s Römer proclaimed as Heinrich Rieth Müller, the head of the Association of German Book Trade, the winner of the German Book Prize in 2014. And Lutz Seiler radiates. He has prevailed, with “kruso” (Suhrkamp Verlag), his first novel at all.

Seiler, it is said in the jury, “describes in a lyrical, sensual, the Magic playing language the summer of 1989 on the island Hiddensee – a ‘court of the disappearance.’ ” Here gathered nerds, creative thinkers, freedom seekers, people who wanted to flee from the GDR. One should read the thrilling Robinsonade to the eponymous kruso and the young Abwäscher Edgar as eloquent story of a personal and historic shipwreck – and as a novel of development of a poet. The text is developing a unique urgency and did not last a requiem for the Baltic refugees who came in their flight were killed. “Lutz Seiler’s first novel impresses with its fully independent poetic language, his sensual intensity and worldliness.”

The seven-member book price panel of booksellers and critics has read and discussed a total of 176 titles in the past five months. All published between October 2013 and 10 September 2014 in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. From their published in August longlist of 20 novels, the jurors have then selected six titles for the shortlist in September. . Already at that time was Seiler’s “kruso” as a favorite for the price – besides Thomas Hettche historical novel “Peacock Island” (Kiepenheuer & amp; Malevich)

In addition, were nominated: “April” by Angelika Klüssendorf (Kiepe army & amp; Petrovitch), “Hispanic Spring” by Gertrud Leutenegger (Suhrkamp), “Euro 3000″ by Thomas Melle (Rowohlt Berlin) and “The researchers Everything” by Heinrich Steinfest (Piper). Lutz Seiler receives prize money of 25,000 euros, which get five finalists each 2,500 euros.

attention to the literature

important than the prize money is likely to authors and publishers, however, have the great interest that public and the media at the German Book Prize show. Ten years after the first edition he says Heinrich Riethmueller “written history, literature, history and media history” Römer in Frankfurt. Both readers and booksellers, journalists and critics discuss the lists namely agile. Someone always has to suspend something, there are always titles that are missing. For an unusually long time, a lot of attention the book industry receives so.

Even though it of course, flirted the head of the Booksellers Association, Heinrich Riehtmüller, during the awards ceremony almost was not reasonable, from the literature of a whole years to one select novel. But: “You can choose who you have to.” The jury has now decided. For “kruso”, this stunning debut by poet Lutz Seiler. Heinrich Riethmueller course recommends not only his, but reading all the nominated novels. The readers form their own judgment on that. Finally, the German Book Prize is supposed to arouse interest in German literature. In recent years, it’s always succeeded admirably.