Ursula Krechel Wins the German Book Prize 2012 for Her Novel "Landgericht"

The winner of the German Book Prize 2012 is Ursula Krechel for her novel "Landgericht" (Jung und Jung). "In her novel 'Landgericht', Ursula Krechel recounts the entanglements in the life of Judge Richard Kornitzer as he returns home from exile. He is steeped in and shattered by his belief in justice and the rule of law when he loses the battle to restore his dignity in the confines of post-war Germany. The novel's language oscillates between narrative, documentary, essay and analysis. At times poetic, at others laconic, Krechel precisely depicts her image of the early German Federal Republic -- from its architecture and ways of life, right up to the contradictions of family psychology. 'Landgericht' is a moving, politically acute novel that makes an admirably cool and modern impression", said the seven-member jury in explaining its decision. Jury members for the German Book Prize 2012 include: Silke Grundmann-Schleicher (Buchhandlung Schleichers, Berlin), Andreas Isenschmid (NZZ am Sonntag), Oliver Jungen (independent critic), Dirk Knipphals (die tageszeitung), Stephan Lohr (Norddeutscher Rundfunk), Jutta Person (independent critic) and Christiane Schmidt (freelance editor).

"Literature requires courage in many respects", 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 300 guests in the Kaisersaal of the Römer. "But it's undoubtedly the authors themselves who have shown the greatest courage by submitting their novels to the debate surrounding the literary prize. For this and for their powerful works I would like to thank the authors nominated for the German Book Prize. The German literature that has emerged in recent years has stood the test set forth with the establishment of the German Book Prize. It holds its own in every literary debate, appeals far beyond the German-speaking world and has achieved a unique, indelible resonance."

With the German Book Prize 2012, the Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels Stiftung honours the best German-language title of the year to coincide with the start of the Frankfurt Book Fair.