The book fair begins, the book prize has been decided: According to the jury, Kim de l’Horizon has written the best German-language novel of the year with “Blutbuch”. The decision was announced yesterday evening in the Kaisersaal of the Römer in Frankfurt. The German Book Prize is endowed with 25,000 euros and is considered the most important award in the industry.
The five other authors on the so-called shortlist each receive 2,500 euros: Fatma Aydemir (“Dschinns”), Kristine Bilkau (“Next door”), Daniela Dröscher (“Lies about my mother”), Jan Factor (“Idiot”) and Eckhart Nickel (“Spitzweg”). The jury viewed a total of 233 titles this year.
On Tuesday it all starts at the exhibition center. After two years with severe restrictions due to the corona pandemic, the Frankfurt Book Fair can take place again almost as usual. Around 4000 exhibitors from 95 countries have registered.
Distinguished visitors expected
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Spanish royal couple will be present at the opening tonight. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia represent this year’s Guest of Honour, Spain. The situation in the book industry will be discussed in the morning at the opening press conference with the head of the Börsenverein, Karin Schmidt-Friderichs, and book fair director Juergen Boos.
The federal government is supporting the book show this year with a total of 3.5 million euros. This is intended to reduce stand fees so that “the variety and diversity of the entire industry can be represented at the world’s largest book fair,” it said. “Even if books saved us through the isolation of the pandemic – literature needs exchange, books need stages, need encounters,” emphasized Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth (Greens).
For trade visitors, the Frankfurt Book Fair begins on Wednesday. The reading public is admitted from Friday. The fair ends on Sunday with the presentation of the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade to the Ukrainian writer Serhij Zhadan. Numerous stars are expected during the fair, including Donna Leon and actress Diane Kruger.
