Loukko by We are thrilled to announce that Katri Lipson will receive the 2013 European Union Prize for Literature for her work The Ice-Cream Man in Brussels today. The award is presented by Mrs. Androulla Vassiliou, the Commissioner in charge of Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth. The 12 winning authors from the participating countries in 2013 will be awarded in the ceremony taking place at the Concert Noble in Brussels in the presence of leading representatives of the worlds of literature, culture and politics.
At the Awards Ceremony, the Foreword are by José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission: 
“I am pleased to present the winners of the 2013 European Union Prize for Literature. These exceptional authors come from twelve different countries: Belgium, Bosnia Herzegovina, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Finland, Germany, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovenia and Spain. They show European literature in all its richness and diversity. The European Union Prize for Literature is a good example of what we mean by European added value. The Prize does not compete with the national awards, but complements them, and brings authors unknown outside their countries into the limelight in other European countries. It also facilitates the translation of the winning books. It therefore aims to attract readers beyond borders and overcome the fragmentation often caused by the language barriers. The Prize is another means of supporting the diversity we all cherish and from which we all profit in the European Union. It is also a symbolic act of support for European authors and the European book publishing industry.
I believe literature is fundamental to us as human beings and to our personal and cultural identity. Literature can touch, teach, illuminate, entertain and challenge us. As readers we are drawn into adventures and we experience other cultures and ideas. With the European Union Prize for Literature we celebrate and promote our literary diversity so vital to all of us. On the following pages we offer you passages from this year’s twelve prize winning books, carefully selected by the authors themselves. You will enjoy a privileged preview and fascinating glimpse of new European literature, both in the original language and in English or French translation. I wish you wonderful sights and discoveries, wandering through new and open literary landscapes!“
Read more about the winning authors and their work:
http://www.euprizeliterature.eu/awards-ceremony/2013
http://www.euprizeliterature.eu/winning-authors/2013
Praise for The Ice-Cream Man:
“The Ice-Cream Man starts out slowly and gains momentum as it progresses. As a whole, the novel is such an amazing aesthetic experience that it makes one contemplate life for a good while. Right up to the ending, it keeps on surprising the reader, as well. (…) And if one starts over from the very beginning, the movie scene opens as a brand new picture, like turning the kaleidoscope. A magnificently wonderful experience.“ – Turun Sanomat, Finland
Rights sold:
Bulgaria, Perseus
Czech, Argo
Turkey, Nemesis
Original publisher: Tammi 2012, 300 pp.
Reading material: Full English draft translation, German sample, Finnish edition
World rights: Elina.Ahlback@ahlbackagency.com