Book review, Education and Science, EU – Baltic States, Latvia

The EU Prize for Literature rewards the best new or emerging authors in Europe. This year's winners are Ben Blushi (Albania), Milen Ruskov (Bulgaria), Jan Nemec (Czech Republic), Makis Tsitas (Greece), Oddny Eir (Iceland), Armin Ohri (Liechtenstein), Pierre J. Mejlak (Malta), Ognjen Spahic (Montenegro), Marente de Moor (Netherlands), Ugljeaa Sajtinac (Serbia), Birgul Oguz (Turkey), Evie Wyld (United Kingdom), and Jonevs.

"The Prize is dedicated to the best new and emerging authors in Europe, regardless of their country of origin or language. The aim is to showcase Europe's best contemporary literature, encourage cross-border sales and promote the translation, publishing and reading of literature from other countries. The EU's new Creative Europe program offers grants for translation, helping authors to attract readers beyond national and linguistic borders," said the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou.

Jonevs' novel "Jelgava '94" is a story set in the 1990s in the Latvian city of Jelgava and looks at the craze during this period for the alternative culture of heavy metal music. Jonevs takes the reader deep inside the world described in the novel: combining the intimate diary of a youngster trying to find himself by joining a subculture, as well as a skilful, detailed and almost documentary-like depiction of the beginnings of the second independence of Latvia.

Each winner receives EUR 5,000. More importantly, they benefit from extra promotion and international visibility. Their publishers are encouraged to apply for EU funding to have the winning books translated into other languages to reach new markets.