Writer Anjet Daanje, born in Wijster, has won the Libris Literature Prize with her novel The song of stork and dromedary.
The prize is the distinction for the best original Dutch-language novel of the past year. Jury chairman Beatrice de Graaf announced the winner during the annual dinner of the Foundation Literature Prize.
Daanje receives a check for 50,000 euros and a bronze medal.
“The song of stork and dromedary is a kaleidoscopic novel of great class,” the jury writes in the report. “In her novel, Daanje puts the imagination to work in an impressive way. Predictions, symbolism, horror, an enigmatic notebook that keeps popping up: a range of literary techniques are used to disrupt and interpret.”
The jury is lyrical about the book and also about Daanje’s working method. “Anjet Daanje is an author who does not seek publicity, but rather avoids it. Who prefers to write rather than talk. Who communicates through her work and thus encourages her readers to dig and interpret.”
Daanje was shortlisted for the Libris Literature Prize together with five other writers. Man without a driver’s license by Oek de Jong, Truthful descriptions from the permafrost by Donald Niedekker, People are everywhere by Yves Petry, The event by Peter Terrin and Interim by Peter Zantingh were also nominated. A place on the shortlist is good for 2500 euros prize money.
The writer previously won the Boekenbon Literatuurprijs with Het lied van stork en dromedary.