The 2024 Frankfurt Book Fair opened with the prestigious announcement of Martina Hefter as the winner of the German Book Prize, a significant honour in the world of German-language literature, per euronews.com. Hefter claimed the prize for her novel Hey guten Morgen, wie geht es dir? (Hey, good morning, how are you?), a profound exploration of loneliness, deception and resilience. The book focuses on a middle-aged woman grappling with her husband’s chronic illness and her immersion into the strange world of online romance scams as a willing victim.
Hefter’s novel, praised for its depth and complexity, has already earned her multiple accolades this year, including the Grand Prize of the German Literature Fund and the Literature Prize of the State Capital Wiesbaden. This win adds a new layer to her illustrious career, which spans both prose and poetry, with Hey guten Morgen, wie geht es dir? marking her fourth novel and first in 16 years.
The German Book Prize jury lauded Hefter’s work for its “intelligently choreographed” structure, noting how it skillfully navigates between the realms of mundane reality and cosmic myth, creating a unique narrative allure. Along with the €25,000 prize, Hefter’s achievement places her at the centre of the literary world during the global celebration that is the Frankfurt Book Fair.
The fair itself, running from October 16 to 20, remains the world’s largest and oldest book event. Since its post-World War II re-establishment in 1949, the Frankfurt Book Fair has grown to draw over 200,000 visitors annually, showcasing the works of thousands of authors, publishers, and literary professionals from around the globe. The first three days of the fair are reserved for industry professionals, while the public can engage in the bustling literary event over the weekend.
Italy takes the spotlight this year as the guest of honour for the first time since 1988, bringing a celebrated lineup of Italian authors, including physicist and writer Carlo Rovelli, acclaimed novelist Susanna Tamaro, and philosopher Stefano Zecchi. Other prominent literary figures attending this year’s fair include Yuval Noah Harari, Roberto Saviano, and Mai Thi Nguyen-Kim.
The Frankfurt Book Fair, known for its broad discussions on literature, philosophy, and politics, continues to host thought-provoking panels, such as a discussion between Harari and philosopher Kohei Saito on the future of humanity. The motto of this year’s event is “FBM24 is Read!ng – Read. Reflect. Relate.”
Despite its celebratory tone, last year’s edition faced controversy when the LitProm LiBeraturpreis award ceremony for Palestinian author Adania Shibli was cancelled due to escalating political tensions between Israel and Hamas. In response to the backlash from over 1,000 authors, including Nobel Prize winners, LitProm has since apologised to Shibli and suspended the award for 2024.
- Featured image: Martina Hefter/Instagram
