The renowned author, Claire Keegan, has been declared the winner of the esteemed Siegfried Lenz Prize for the year 2024, which holds a monetary value of €50,000. This award is bestowed upon global authors whose creative prowess resonates with the life and spirit of Siegfried Lenz. Lenz, an acclaimed German author, initiated this honour shortly prior to his passing in 2014.
Past recipients of this biennial award encompass notable figures such as Julian Barnes, Richard Ford, and Elizabeth Strout. The jury commended Claire Keegan for being an exceptional European storyteller upon disclosing the winner of the 2024 prize.
Literature Ireland’s director, Sinéad Mac Aodha, shared her excitement about Keegan’s work gaining recognition through this prestigious award in Germany. Steidl, a publishing company that has collaborated with Literature Ireland since 2004 to publish Keegan’s works, also carries German translations by authors such as Mike McCormack, Colin Barrett, Caoilinn Hughes, Sebastian Barry and Maeve Brennan.
The award convening for the Siegfried Lenz Prize is scheduled to be held at the Hamburg City Hall in October.