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Dutch Author Loses Booker Prize
Dutch author Yael van der Wouden was nominated for the Booker Prize but lost to British author Samantha Harvey. The news also highlights the gender balance in the nominations and previous Dutch successes in international literature awards.
Dutch
Netherlands
UkNetherlandsLiteratureAwardsNovel
Booker PrizeClarence HouseIss (International Space Station)Nos NieuwsNieuwsuur
Yael Van Der WoudenSamantha HarveyMarieke Lucas RijneveldJente PosthumaJenny Erpenbeck
- Who won the 2024 Booker Prize and for what novel?
- Yael van der Wouden, a Dutch author, was nominated for the prestigious Booker Prize for her novel, "The Safekeep." However, the prize was awarded to British author Samantha Harvey for her book, "Orbital."
- What is the setting and general theme of Samantha Harvey's winning novel?
- Samantha Harvey's winning novel, "Orbital," is set aboard the International Space Station and explores themes of humanity's impact on Earth. The judges praised it as a 'wonderous' novel that makes our world seem 'strange and new'.
- What is the setting and general theme of Yael van der Wouden's nominated novel?
- Van der Wouden's novel, "The Safekeep," is set in post-World War II Overijssel and focuses on the tension between two young women. While successful internationally, it has received less attention in the Netherlands, which Van der Wouden attributes to it being written in English.
- Name any previous Dutch winners or nominees of major English-language literary prizes.
- Previous Dutch winners of major English-language literary prizes include Marieke Lucas Rijneveld, who won the International Booker Prize in 2020, and Jente Posthuma, who was shortlisted for the Booker Prize earlier this year.
- What is significant about the gender representation of finalists in this year's Booker Prize?
- This year's Booker Prize saw five out of six finalists being women, marking a significant milestone in the prize's history. Harvey is only the nineteenth woman to win the award in its 55-year history.