Stefan Hertmans nominated for the Man Booker Prize

The Belgian author Stefan Hertmans has been successfully nominated for the international edition of the Man Booker Prize with his novel ‘War and turpentine’. The book from 2013 tells the story of Hertmans' grandfather during the First World War. In 2014 the novel was awarded the AKO Literature Prize, and last year the book was spotted by the New York Times, who included it in its list of top 10 books in 2016. In the meantime, ‘War and turpentine’ has been published in a number of different languages, serving to extend its international success.

There is great competition for the Man Booker Prize however. The longlist of thirteen books will be shortlisted to six books on 20 April and the final winner will be announced by the jury on 14 June. It is the first time that a Belgian has featured on the international longlist. The Man Booker Prize is one of the most prestigious prizes for literature. Hertmans is truly honoured by his nomination. “I could not believe it. I do think that the novel has universal relevance. It is a tale about catharsis and describes how people change over time.”