Congratulations to Scribe Publications who have a great track record as a source of terrific books in translation for the Australian market – because this year’s winner of the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is The Twin by Dutch author Gerbrand Bakker.
His translator is the Aussie David Colmer and (as he should) he shares the €100,000,000 prize with Bakker (75:25). Colmer was born in Adelaide but moved to Holland in the early 1990s.
For more information about The Twin, see Scribe’s website.
To see a terrific review visit the Mookse and the Gripes.
ANZ LitLovers LitBlog 
Damn – one I’ve not read won it! Another one to add to the TBR pile then. I was rather hoping that hoping Settlement would win
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By: Tom C on June 19, 2010
at 1:17 am
Oooh, a Dutch book won! Is it a prize for translators or authors? I like the idea of a prize for translated fiction, it deserves a lot more attention.
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By: Iris on June 19, 2010
at 3:33 am
I’ve just read The Twin and enjoyed it, have got Settlement on shelf to read. It’s hard to say if it was worthy of the win but I did really enjoy it.
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By: winstonsdad on June 19, 2010
at 7:24 am
I’ve usually liked the IMPAC winners I’ve come across – and both The Twin (and Settlement) are on my wishlst now.
The Miles Franklin award is next up – and I still haven’t taken the plunge to predict the winner. It’s such a strange shortlist with three genre fiction titles on it, and only three that I think are worthy so I don’t have any confidence in the judges to make a fair decision…
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By: Lisa Hill on June 19, 2010
at 7:45 am
Re. Is it a prize for translators or authors?
For authors, but if the book has been translated into English then the translator receives a percentage of the cash prize. There’s also a gilded statuette of a book doing a handstand, but I think the author keeps that. I like the IMPAC; they gave the first one to David Malouf, which means they’ve got at least one thing right.
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By: DKS on June 19, 2010
at 8:47 am
There’s a long interview with Bakker at the Irish Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2010/0618/1224272782285.html
“Bakker’s gardener’s face, as weathered as that of an Arctic explorer, creases into a series of expressions …”
I found the link at the Literary Saloon: http://www.complete-review.com/saloon/index.htm#qe9 Thank you, M.A.Orthofer.
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By: DKS on June 19, 2010
at 9:19 am
One of these days I’m going to do a My Favourite Author post about David Malouf. Which book did he win the IMPAC for, Deane?
BTW Deane, you must get hold of a copy of Glissando which I am reading at the moment. It owes a lot to Voss, and I think you will enjoy it. (Can’t send you mine because it’s from the library).
Lisa
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By: Lisa Hill on June 19, 2010
at 9:43 am
Remembering Babylon. I shall trust them forever.
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By: DKS on June 19, 2010
at 10:03 am
Yes, wonderful book…
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By: Lisa Hill on June 19, 2010
at 11:25 am
I too have just finished reading The Twin. It is a slow and laconic read. Bakker writing reminds me of Tim Winton.
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By: Meg on June 24, 2010
at 8:55 am
Hi Meg, it’s definitely on my wishlist! Lisa:)
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By: Lisa Hill on June 24, 2010
at 6:00 pm