Frankfurt Book Prize: Longlist 2024 shows variety of fascinating stories

Frankfurt Book Prize: Longlist 2024 shows variety of fascinating stories

The anticipation for the Frankfurt Book Fair is again noticeable, because the jury recently published the longlist for the German Book Prize. In a solemn act in Frankfurt am Main, the selection of a total of 197 submitted works was presented, which has the potential to shape the literary discourse of the next year.

Jury spokeswoman Natascha Freundel said that the selected titles not only tell stories, but also penetrate deeply into human experience. She emphasized that the books address topics such as loneliness, violence and loss, but are certainly not without poetic elements. These works offer an honest reflection on reality without reducing the reader's imagination.

a wide range of literature

The longlist comprises a variety of authors and publishers that make you listen with their latest works. It should be emphasized that both established names and aspiring liters are represented among the 20 titles. For example, the work “Real -Talent” by Tonio Schachinger, who won the coveted prize in the previous year, is no longer among the nominees, but shows how changeable the literary scene is.

• Nora Bossong : Reich Chancellor Platz (Suhrkamp Verlag, August 2024)
• Zora del Buono : His way (publisher C.H.Beck, July 2024)
• Franz Friedrich : The passenger (S. Fischer Verlag, April 2024)
• Martina Hefter : Hey good morning, how are you? (Klett-Cotta, July 2024)
• Timon Karl Kaleyta : healing (Piper Verlag, February 2024)
• Maren Kames : Hasenprosa (Suhrkamp Verlag, March 2024)
• Michael Köhlmeier : The Philosophenschiff (Hanser, January 2024)
• Daniela Krien : My third life (Diogenes Verlag, August 2024)
• André Kubiczek : Nostalgia (Rowohlt Berlin Verlag, May 2024)
• Ulla Lenze : The well-being (Klett-Cotta, August 2024)
• Clemens Meyer : The projectors (S. Fischer Verlag, August 2024)
• Max Oravin : Toni & Toni (Literaturverlag Droschl, August 2024)
• ronya Othmann : seventy of four (Rowohlt Verlag, March 2024)
• Mithu Sanyal : Antichristy (Hanser, September 2024)
• Stefanie Sargnagel : Iowa (Rowohlt a hundred eyes, December 2023)
• Dana von Suffrin : Again from the front (Kiepenheuer & Witsch, March 2024)
• Markus Thielemann : A thunder (Verlag C.H.Beck, July 2024)
is rolling from the north
• Ruth-Maria Thomas : The most beautiful version (Rowohlt a hundred eyes, July 2024)
• Doris Wirth : find me (cheetah publisher, March 2024)
• Iris Wolff : clearings (Klett-Cotta, January 2024)

The books on the longlist have either been published between October 2023 and September 17, 2024 or are published during this time. The next step in the selection process is that the jury will announce the shortlist with six titles on September 17. The tension increases, since the price is awarded on October 14th as part of the Frankfurt Book Fair, a highlight in the literary world.

The winner of the German Book Prize UHT 25,000 euros, while the other five received 2,500 euros each in the shortlist. These financial incentives are not only an incentive for the authors, but also contribute to the visibility and recognition of modern literature in Germany.

a time of change in the literature

The German Book Prize 2023 was awarded to the Austrian author Tonio Schachinger for his work "real -time age". It shows which talent emerges in the current literary scene. Checking and creative at the same time, the selected works express a need for stories that encourage both reality and imagination. The longlist is not just a collection of book titles, it is a mirror of our time and the challenges we have to accept. The diversity of the topics and approaches of the authors reflects the rich legacy and innovation of German literature.

The German Book Prize remains an essential event that keeps the literary discourse alive and shows the future path of literature in Germany. At a time when stories are more than ever searched and valued, the selection of the longlist acts as a lighthouse for readers who are concerned with new perspectives and stories.

A look at the selection criteria of the jury

The jury of the German Book Prize has clear criteria for the selection of the works that come to the longlist. Not only the linguistic quality plays a role, but also the thematic depth and the relevance of the content. According to jury spokeswoman Natascha Freundel, it is essential that the selected books map reality and at the same time allow a look into the future. Particular attention is paid to the ability of the authors to process complex social issues in a narrative framework.

The jury consists of literary scholars, writing and other experts who come together regularly to discuss the submitted works. This creates a dynamic exchange that often leads to surprising discoveries. The selection is therefore not only a personal decision by the jury members, but the result of a collective process that combines different perspectives.

Current trends in German literature

In recent years, a remarkable trend has emerged in German literature, which is also reflected in the longlist of the German Book Prize. Many of the nominated works address social injustices, the personal feeling of isolation and mental health, which reflects social currents. Authors such as Nora Bossong and Zora del Buono have managed to process current events literarily and thereby to initiate an important discourse.

In addition, it shows that many of the authors also pay attention to international contexts. The connection between German literature and global topics such as migration and climate driving is becoming increasingly increasing. These tendencies not only show that the writers face a variety of challenges, but also that they upgrade their voices in a multi -layered dialogue.

The role of the German Book Prize in the literary landscape

The German Book Prize plays an important role in the German literary landscape, not only as an award for excellent literary services, but also as a platform for new voices. Since its introduction in 2005, the prize has helped many authors, including lesser -known writers.

Media attention that goes hand in hand with the award ceremony enables the nominated and award winners to present their works to a wider audience. This not only affects the sales figures for the books, but also on literary culture in Germany by stating the debate about literature and its social relevance. The price also promotes the exchange between the audience and the author, especially during the Frankfurt Book Fair, where the price is traditionally awarded.

statistics on the 2023

According to the current statistics of the Börsenverein of the German Book Trade, the sales figures for the book market have stabilized in recent years, whereby the summer of 2023 has positive trends. The sales figures for fiction have increased in particular, which underlines the attractiveness of the latest literary works. The influence of book prices on sales figures can also be seen clearly: works by previous award winners often sold 30-50% better in the months after the award.

A survey among readers that was carried out over the last book prize prize season showed that almost 60% of the respondents have been given that their purchase decisions are influenced by the nominations at the German Book Prize. This illustrates the relevance of the price and its ability to control reading behavior and the perception of literature in Germany.