Eugen Ruge wins the German Book Prize 2011 for his novel “In Zeiten des abnehmenden Lichts”

Börsenverein honours the best German-language novel of the year / Award ceremony held before 400 guests at Frankfurt’s Römer

The winner of the German Book Prize 2011 is Eugen Ruge for his novel “In Zeiten des abnehmenden Lichts” (Rowohlt). “Eugen Ruge’s family saga is a reflection of East German history. He manages to tame the experiences of four generations over 50 years into a dramatically refined composition. His book tells the story of the socialist utopia, the price demanded of the individual, and its gradual extinction. At the same time, his novel is distinguished by its great entertainment value and strong sense of humour”, said the seven-member jury in explaining its decision. Jury members for the German Book Prize 2011 include: Gregor Dotzauer (Der Tagesspiegel), Ulrike Draesner (author), Clemens-Peter Haase (†, Goethe Institute), Ina Hartwig (independent critic), Christine Westermann (Westdeutscher Rundfunk), Uwe Wittstock (Focus) and jury spokeswoman Maike Albath (journalist for Deutschlandfunk and Deutschlandradio Kultur).

“The response to the selection process that has been a part of the German Book Prize since its inception has given me the impression that the German literature that has emerged in recent years can stand up to the comparison it has been exposed to through the German Book Prize. In the concert of international literature, it can not only be heard, but thanks to the German Book Prize, it has also achieved its very own intrinsic voice”, said Prof. Dr. Gottfried Honnefelder, director of the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels and chairman of the Akademie Deutscher Buchpreis, in his opening address to approximately 400 guests in the Kaisersaal of the Römer.

Ruge prevailed against: Jan Brandt (Gegen die Welt, DuMont), Michael Buselmeier (Wunsiedel, Das Wunderhorn), Angelika Klüssendorf (Das Mädchen, Kiepenheuer & Witsch), Sibylle Lewitscharoff (Blumenberg, Suhrkamp) and Marlene Streeruwitz (Die Schmerzmacherin, S. Fischer). He will receive 25,000 euros in prize winnings; the five finalists will each receive 2,500 euros. The winner was determined in several selection stages. The jury reviewed a total of 198 titles published between October 2010 and 14 September 2011. A longlist of 20 titles was then compiled from these novels. From this list, the jurors selected six titles for the shortlist.

With the German Book Prize 2011, the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels Stiftung honours the best German-language novel of the year to coincide with the start of the Frankfurt Book Fair. Partners of the German Book Prize include Paschen & Companie, the Frankfurter Sparkasse Foundation, the Frankfurt Book Fair and the city of Frankfurt am Main. The television station Deutsche Welle serves as a media partner of the German Book Prize both at home and abroad.

Excerpts from the nominated novels are available for free download at http://deutscherbuchpreis.libreka.de. They can be downloaded and read on a computer or e-reader. Excerpts from the shortlist titles are also available in English translation on the website www.signandsight.com, along with an English dossier on the shortlist.

For additional information, film clips from the press conference and a schedule of the winner’s appearances at the Frankfurt Book Fair, visit www.deutscher-buchpreis.de.