Laureates of the Latvian Literary Award of the Year awarded; year’s prize in prose goes to Sven Kuzmins / Diena

In the final vote of the expert committee of the Latvian Literature of the Year Award, the winner of LALIGABA was nominated The best work of poetry recognized poetry collection of Marta Pujats Lady in white jeans, which has come forward supplies Not a bird. The award is given for poetry whose brevity and precision mark the mysterious, undiscovered, but always present geography of both Latvia and the inner world.

In the nomination The best prose work the prize went to Sven Kuzmin’s novel Beauty and anxietywhich was published by Book of the Day. The award is given for a novel in which a complex period of history is deeply studied and the apparently well-known writer of Latvian classics comes to life in a completely new – human, bubbling vortex of ideas and passions.

In the nomination The best rhyme in Latvian the award was won by Guntars Godiņš for the collection Surrealism in Estonian poetry assembly and cooling. This work was published by Not a bird. The award was given for the incredibly difficult and almost impossible work of a cool-headed, thinker and co-creator, the result of which is read passionately, sonically and permanently.

On the other hand, the novel of the Belarusian fiction author Viktars Marcinovičs, translated by Mara Poliakova, was recognized as the best prose translation. Mova. This book is published by Prometheus. The award was given for the skillful and persistent work of the translator, bringing to life the visionary anti-utopia of the Belarusian author in Latvian, convincingly showing the coding (and narcotic) effect of a small language.

In the nomination The best work of original literature for children the collection of poems by Kārlis Vērdins won his laurels Jandalins, the publisher Big and small. The award is given for poems written for both children and adults – everyone who needs a little more pranks and fun in life, even if sometimes you have to cry after laughing madly.

On the other hand, in the nomination The brightest debut Linda Mence (Gabarayeva) received the award for her debut poetry collection circles, issued by Not a bird. The award is given for a convincingly mature debut collection, which shows not only a new and unusual voice entering the world of Latvian poetry, but also a serious and deep experience of a poetry reader. The money bonus and prize of the debut category is supported by the Jelgava printing house for the second year.

In the category The brightest work in literature Ingunas Daukste-Silasproħe’s monograph on Gunara Janovski was recognized as the best Voices over the sea issued by Book of the Day. The award is given for a deep and panoramic view of the writer’s work and its roots in everyday life, and thus also a valuable insight into the creation and contexts of literature in exile.

The expert commission has decided to award two special awards this year – to poet and translator Contra (Marguss Konnula) for translating and popularizing Latvian literature in Estonia, as well as to Ronald Briedis for cultural education programs Literary Academy management for 20 years.

The lifetime award for significant contribution to Latvian literature was awarded to poet, prose writer, translator Margita Gūtman.

This year, the Readers’ Award was determined in cooperation with the public media portal LSM in a public vote that lasted from March 29 to April 28. The collection of stories by Ruta Kārkliņa won the vote and won the LSM readers’ award Hell’s Beautiful Mysteries (Star ABC).

This year, for the first time, the laureates were presented with new design awards, as well as larger cash prizes.

On the other hand, SIA Jelgava printing house starting from this year, the prize-winning books, in cooperation with publishers and bookstores, will be provided with special stickers to make them more visible.

2023/2024 The 2018 LALIGABA expert commission includes its chairperson, writer Ieva Melgalve, cultural journalist Undīne Adamaite, poet, comedian and musician Pēteris Draguns, literary scholar and researcher Madara Āriņa (Eversone), poet and publicist Ligija Purinaš, writer Osvalds Zebris, translator, comedian and publicist Ilmārs Zvirgzd.

The Latvian Literary Award of the Year (LALIGABA) is the most important event of the year in the literary industry in Latvia. It provides professional evaluation of literary works and recognition of authors for the best works of the year.

The award is organized by the Lithuanian Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art, the International House of Writers and Translators and the Writers’ Union of Latvia, supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia and the Jelgava Printing House.

The LALIGABA 2024 ceremony was made in cooperation with Latvian Television and took place in Āgenskalns market. Script author Rasa Bugavičute-Pēce, director Mārtiņš Kalita, producer Eva Eglāja-Kristsone.