European Book Prize

(Redirected from Le Prix du Livre Européen)

The European Book Prize (French: Le Prix du Livre Européen) is a European Union literary award established in 2007. It is organized by the association Esprit d'Europe in Paris. It seeks to promote European values, and to contribute to European citizens' better understanding of the European Union as a cultural entity.

European Book Prize
Awarded forpromoting European values, and contributing to European citizens' better understanding of the European Union as a cultural entity
Location European Union
Presented byEsprit d'Europe
Reward(s)€10,000
First awarded2007; 17 years ago (2007)
Currently held byRobert Menasse for Die Erweiterung (2023)
Websitelivre-europeen.eu

Eligible books must have been published in one of the 27 European Union (EU) member-states in the preceding year, in the original language or a translation. Works are submitted in one of two categories: essai (which in French means, something broader than the English "essay") and romans et récits ("novels and narratives").[1] A long list is drawn up by the organizers in Paris; the number varies but for example, in 2011, there were 50 essais plus 47 romans et recits.[1] These are then sent to a "sponsorship committee" which narrows it down to about a seven title shortlist, which are then given to a new committee of judges, composed of journalists and authors.[1]

The European Book Prize was founded by France Rouqe, Luce Perrot and François-Xavier Priollaud. The prize is worth 10,000 euros to each winner. The first two years saw only one winner who received 20,000 euros.

Winners

The inaugural European Book Prize was awarded to Belgium's prime minister Guy Verhofstadt for United States of Europe. The ceremony was held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 5 December 2007.

Swedish crime fiction writer Henning Mankell handed the prize to the winner. While giving the prize, Mankell said that the jury was sensitive to the political courage showed by the current prime minister of Belgium. He added that in a Europe which has a lot of self-doubt, which has a lot of questions about its own future, Guy Verhofstadt offered a clear proposal for the future. He gave reasons to believe in European constitution.

While receiving the reward, Verhofstadt said, "When I wrote this book, I in fact meant it as a provocation against all those who didn't want the European Constitution. Fortunately, in the end a solution was found with the treaty, that was approved."[2]

YearCategoryEnglish titleOriginal titleAuthorNationalityRef(s)
2007EssayUnited States of EuropeDe Verenigde Staten van Europa: manifest voor een nieuw EuropaGuy Verhofstadt  Belgium
2008EssayPostwar: A History of Europe Since 1945Tony Judt  United Kingdom
2009NovelGottlandGottlandMariusz Szczygieł  Poland
EssayEurope for DummiesL'Europe pour les NulsSylvie Goulard  France
2010NovelPurgePuhdistusSofi Oksanen  Finland
EssayBeauty and the InfernoLa bellezza e l'infernoRoberto Saviano  Italy
2011NovelRed Love: The Story of an East German FamilyHaltet euer Herz bereit: eine ostdeutsche FamiliengeschichteMaxim Leo  Germany[1]
EssayThe Crime and the SilenceMy z JedwabnegoAnna Bikont  Poland[1]
2012NovelMadonna on the moonWie die Madonna auf den Mond kamRolf Bauerdick  Germany
EssayEurope’s passageDe passage naar Europa. Geschiedenis van een beginLuuk van Middelaar  Netherlands
2013NovelAn Englishman in MadridRiña de gatosEduardo Mendoza  Spain[3]
EssayThe French, gravediggers of the euroCes Français, fossoyeurs de l’euroArnaud Leparmentier [eo; fr]  France[3]
2014NovelHannah's DressLa robe de Hannah: Berlin 1904–2014Pascale Hugues  France[4]
EssayTurbulent and Mighty ContinentAnthony Giddens  United Kingdom
2015NovelVeraJean-Pierre Orban  Belgium[5]
EssayEnraged Citizens, European Peace and Democratic DeficitsDer Europäische Landbote: Die Wut der Bürger und der Friede EuropasRobert Menasse  Austria
2016NovelThe ImpostorEl impostorJavier Cercas  Spain
EssayIl più e il menoErri De Luca  Italy
2017NovelZinkDavid Van Reybrouck  Belgium[6]
EssayCome la democrazia fallisceRaffaele Simone [it]  Italy
2018NovelThose Who ForgetLes AmnésiquesGéraldine Schwarz  Germany
EssayOrbán: Europe's New StrongmanPaul Lendvai  Austria
Jury prizeEast West Street: On the Origins of Genocide and Crimes Against HumanityPhilippe Sands  United Kingdom
2019NovelMiddle EnglandJonathan Coe  United Kingdom
EssayNous l’Europe, banquet des peuplesLaurent Gaudé  France
2020NovelIt Happened on the First of September (or Some Other Time)Stalo sa prvého septembra (alebo inokedy)Pavol Rankov  Slovakia
Jury prizeBorder. A Journey to the Edge of EuropeKapka Kassabova  Bulgaria
2021NovelNikiΝίκηChristos Chomenidis  Greece
2022NovelM. L'uomo della provvidenzaAntonio Scurati  Italy
2023NovelDie ErweiterungRobert Menasse  Austria

Winners by country

CountryLaureates
 France4
 Italy4
 United Kingdom4
 Austria*3
 Belgium3
 Germany3
 Spain2
 Poland2
 Bulgaria1
 Finland1
 Greece1
 Netherlands1
 Slovakia1
  • In 2023, Robert Menasse became the first laureate to be awarded the prize for two different books (in 2015 and 2023)

References