Most recently, her tetralogy of the seasons was highly praised, which has also been available in German translation since last year. The prize is endowed with 25,000 euros and will be awarded in the summer as part of the Salzburg Festival.
According to the jury’s statement, the author, who lives in Cambridge, stays “close to our present in her novels and short stories”. “And because there is no present without a past, she equips characters with biographies that reflect the 20th century.” The 59-year-old gives her characters dreams and memories, fantasies and mind games. “This requires a clever aesthetic program that does justice to the abundance of inner states.” The jury consisted of experts, journalists and authors.
Secretary of State for Culture Andrea Mayer (Greens) also congratulated: “In her novels and short stories we meet ourselves and find the big and small issues of our time, our hopes and fears.” The State Prize has been awarded since 1965 for the literary oeuvre of a European author that has received particular international attention.
Source: Nachrichten
