The longlist for the European Literature Prize was announced. Thirteen independent Dutch and Flemish bookshops have selected the 20 best titles from among the European literary novels published in Dutch translation in 2010. Of these 20 novels, no less than five are contributions by NIAS Fellows and former Fellows.
The prize will be presented in early September during Manuscripta, the opening of the new Dutch book season. The following titles by current and former NIAS Fellows were nominated:
De Wetenden (Orbitor) by Mircea Cartarescu, translated from the Romanian by Jan Willem Bos (De Bezige Bij)
De niet verhoorde gebeden van Jacob de Zoet (The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet) by David Mitchell, translated from the English by Harm Damsma and Niek Miedema
Drie sterke vrouwen (Trois femmes puissantes) by Marie NDiaye, translated from the French by Jeanne Holierhoek (De Geus)
Zomerleugens (Sommerlügen) by Bernhard Schlink, translated from the German by Nelleke van Maaren (Cossee)
De werkplaats van de duivel (Chladnou zemí) by Jáchym Topol, translated from the Czech by Edgar de Bruin (Ambo І Anthos)
The European Literature Prize will be awarded in 2011 for the first time. It recognises the best novel translated into Dutch from another European language and published in 2010. The winning author will receive the sum of €10,000. The prize is unusual in that it is also awarded to the translator of the chosen book; he or she will receive €2,500.
The jury will announce the shortlist at the end of April 2011. The European Literature Prize is an initiative of the Academic-Cultural Centre SPUI25, the Dutch Foundation for Literature, the weekly magazine De Groene Amsterdammer and Athenaeum Booksellers.
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