The Leipzig Book Fair, taking place on March 19, will award prizes for fiction, nonfiction/essays, and translations. The jury, which includes Tilman Spreckelsen, a literature editor for the FAZ, unveiled the five nominated books for each category ahead of the event. These awards are seen as significant in the German-speaking literary community, second only to the German Literature Prize awarded in Frankfurt during the autumn book fair.

In the fiction category, five novels are competing for the award: Helene Bukowski's 'Who Wouldn't Want to Stay Alive' published by Claassen, Norbert Gstrein's 'In the First Light' (Hanser), Anja Kampmann's 'Anger is a Bright Star' (Hanser), Katerina Poladjans' 'Gold Coast' (S. Fischer), and Elli U.'s work. The selections reflect the diversity and talent within contemporary German literature.

As this event approaches, it serves to highlight the vitality of the literary scene, promoting not only established authors but also newer voices. The Leipzig awards typically generate considerable media attention and public interest, helping to elevate the works and potential sales for the nominated titles, showcasing the pivotal role the Leipzig Book Fair plays in the literary calendar.