Italian writer wins prestigious German literary prize
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The 25,000-euro Peace Prize of the German Book Trade was awarded to the Italian writer Claudio Magris on Sunday on the last day of the Frankfurt Book Fair.
The prestigious award has been given every year since 1950 to a person who has "significantly advanced ideas of peace" through his or her literary, scientific or artistic work.
Magris, 70, is a novelist, essayist, newspaper columnist and academic specialising in central Europe.
In his acceptance speech he warned against political populism in Europe and criticised "invisible barriers" between immigrants and natives in major European cities.
And without directly attacking Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Magris said he hoped "as an Italian patriot that my country will not again be seen as a pioneer for the wrong reasons: after all we invented fascism in Europe".
Magris has won a number of high profile European literary awards prizes and has been tipped among the favourites to win the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments