German author Jenny Erpenbeck and translator Michael Hofmann have been awarded the prestigious International Booker Prize for their novel, Kairos.
Kairos tells the story of a tumultuous love affair between a 19-year-old student and a married man in his 50s, set against the backdrop of East Berlin in 1986. This relationship symbolizes the "crushed idealism" and the eventual collapse of the German Democratic Republic.
The duo will share the £50,000 prize.
The judges selected Kairos from a shortlist of six books, lauding its "luminous prose" and the exceptional quality of the translation. "It starts with love and passion, but it`s at least as much about power, art, and culture," remarked Eleanor Wachtel, the chair of judges. She highlighted how the personal story intertwines with the broader history of East Germany, often intersecting with historical events in unexpected ways.
Last year’s prize went to Time Shelter by Bulgarian author Georgi Gospodinov, translated by Angela Rodel, which was also set during the fall of the Iron Curtain.
Erpenbeck, 57, a Berlin native and former opera director, has authored acclaimed works like The End of Days (2014) and Go, Went, Gone (2017), which was longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2018. Hofmann, 66, considered one of the foremost translators of German literature into English, also teaches part-time at the University of Florida. He described Kairos as a coin, with personal and state narratives that are constantly in flux.
The Booker Prizes honor the best fiction written in English (the Booker Prize) or translated into English (the International Booker Prize). Translated fiction is increasingly popular among young readers in the UK, with under-35s now making up nearly half of translated fiction purchases. The largest group of fiction readers remains those aged 60 to 84.
Winning a Booker Prize often leads to global recognition and a significant increase in sales. For instance, Time Shelter saw a 435% surge in sales the week after winning the 2023 prize.
Kairos has been praised for its intricate exploration of themes like freedom, loyalty, love, and power. The Guardian described it as "one of the bleakest and most beautiful novels," while The Atlantic noted its unique portrayal of historical events.
The 2024 International Booker Prize ceremony took place at London`s Tate Modern on Tuesday, with sponsorship from fashion house Maison Valentino.
