Georgian writer wins the 2022 European Union Prize for Literature
An international jury announced the 2022 winner and the 5 special mentions at the Paris Book Fair.
The Georgian writer Iva Pezuashvili wins the grand Prix for her book A garbage chute. The jury also gave a special mention to writers from Ukraine, Bosnia Herzegovina, Belgium (Flanders), Spain, and Ireland (Irish language).
The 2022 nominees
The nominees for 2022 came from 14 different countries:
- Austria: Peter Karoshi, Zu den Elefanten (The elephants), Publisher: Leykam Verlag
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Slađana Nina Perković, U Jarku (In the ditch), Publisher: Imprimatur
- Belgium: Gaea Schoeters, Trofee (Trophy), Publisher: Uitgeverij Querido
- Georgia: ივა ფეზუაშვილი (Iva Pezuashvili), ბუნკერი (A garbage chute), Publisher: ინტელექტი (Intellect)
- Greece: Τάκης Καμπύλης (Takis Kampylis), Γενικά Συμπτώματα (Generla Symptoms), Publisher: ΚΑΣΤΑΝΙΩΤΗΣ (Kastaniotis)
- Ireland: Tadhg Mac Dhonnagain, Madame Lazare, Publisher: Futa Fata • Italy: Daniele Mencarelli, Sempre tornare (Always return), Publisher: Mondadori
- Lithuania: Tomas Vaiseta, Ch., Publisher: Baltos lankos
- North Macedonia: Владимир Јанковски (Vladimir Jankovski), Скриени желби, немирни патувања (Hidden Desires, Restless Travels), Publisher: Антолог (Anthology)
- Norway: Kjersti Anfinnsen, Øyeblikk for evigheten (Moments for eternity), Publisher: Kolon forlag
- Romania: Raluca Nagy, Teo de la 16 la 18 (Cléo from 5 to 7), Publisher: Nemira
- Slovakia: Richard Pupala, Ženy aj muži, zvieratá (Women and men, animals), Publisher: Lindeni
- Spain: Jacobo Bergareche, Los días perfectos (Perfect days), Publisher: Libros del Asteroide
- Ukraine: Євгенія Кузнєцова (Eugenia Kuznetsova), Спитайте Мієчку (Ask Miyechka), Publisher: Видавництво Старого Лева (Old Lion Publishing House)
All nominated authors will be continuously promoted at European level. This will help them reach a wider and more international audience, as well as connect with readers beyond their national and linguistic borders.
The 2022 selection displays a great variety of languages, countries stories, and voices. It is a perfect illustration of what EU and Creative Europe stand for: openness to cultural and linguistic diversity within and beyond EU.
About the prize
The European Union Prize for Literature has since 2009 recognised emerging fiction writers from the European Union and beyond. The Prize celebrates outstanding new literary talents from all the 41 countries participating in Creative Europe.
Spotlighting the creativity and the immense and diverse wealth of Europe’s contemporary literature in the field of fiction, EUPL aims to promote the circulation of literature within Europe and encourage greater interest in non-national literary works.
The prize is organised by a Consortium of associations comprising the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) and the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF), with the support of the European Commission.