European Book Prize


The European Book Prize is a European Union literary award established in 2007, organized by the association Esprit d'Europe in Paris. It seeks to promote European values, and to contribute to European citizens' better understanding of the European Union as a cultural entity.
Eligible books must have been published in one of the 27 European Union member-states in the preceding year, in the original language or a translation. Works are submitted in one of two categories: essai and romans et récits. A long list is drawn up by the organizers in Paris, the number varies but for example in 2011 there were 50 essais plus 47 romans et recits. These are then sent to a "sponsorship committee" which narrows it down to about a seven title shortlist, which are then given to a new committee of judges, composed of journalists and authors.
The European Book Prize is organised by the association Esprit d'Europe and was founded by France Rouqe, Luce Perrot and François-Xavier Priollaud. The prize is worth 10,000 euros to each winner, the first two years had one winner only who received 20,000 euros.

Winners

The inaugural European Book Prize was awarded to Belgium's prime minister Guy Verhofstadt for United States of Europe. The ceremony was held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 5 December 2007.
Swedish crime fiction writer Henning Mankell handed the prize to the winner. While giving the prize, Mankell said that the jury was sensitive to the political courage showed by the current prime minister of Belgium. He added that in a Europe which has a lot of self-doubt, which has a lot of questions about its own future, Guy Verhofstadt offered a clear proposal for the future. He gave reasons to believe in European constitution.
While receiving the reward Verhofstadt said, "When I wrote this book, I in fact meant it as a provocation against all those who didn't want the European Constitution. Fortunately, in the end a solution was found with the treaty, that was approved."
YearCategoryEnglish titleOriginal titleAuthorNationalityRef
2007United States of EuropeDe Verenigde Staten van Europa: manifest voor een nieuw EuropaGuy Verhofstadt
2008'PostwarTony Judt
2009FictionGottlandGottlandMariusz Szczygieł
2009Non-fictionEurope for DummiesL'Europe pour les NulsSylvie Goulard
2010FictionPurgePuhdistusSofi Oksanen
2010Non-fictionBeauty and the InfernoLa bellezza e l'infernoRoberto Saviano
2011Fiction'
2011Non-fictionThe Crime and the SilenceMy z JedwabnegoAnna Bikont
2012FictionMadonna on the moonWie die Madonna auf den Mond kamRolf Bauerdick
2012Non-fictionEurope’s passageLe Passage à l’EuropeLuuk van Middelaar
2013FictionAn Englishman in MadridRiña de gatosEduardo Mendoza
2013Non-fictionThe French, gravediggers of the euroCes Français, fossoyeurs de l’euroArnaud Leparmentier
2014FictionHannah's DressLa robe de HannahPascale Hugues
2014Non-fictionTurbulent and Mighty ContinentTurbulent and Mighty ContinentAnthony Giddens
2015FictionVeraJean-Pierre Orban
2015Non-fictionDer Europäische LandboteRobert Menasse
2016FictionThe ImpostorEl impostorJavier Cercas
2016Non-fictionLe Plus et le MoinsErri De Luca
2017FictionZinkDavid Van Reybrouck
2017Non-fictionSi la démocratie fait failliteRaffaele Simone
2018FictionThose Who ForgetLes AmnésiquesGeraldine Schwarz
2018Non-fictionEast West Street: On the Origins of Genocide and Crimes against HumanityPhilippe Sands
2019FictionMiddle EnglandJonathan Coe-
2019Non-fictionNous l’Europe, banquet des peuplesLaurent Gaudé