The award for the novel "Wax" will be presented on May 28th
The Darmstadt "Book of the Month" jury has awarded its literary prize for the third time. This year, author Christine Wunnicke receives the €5,000 prize for her novel *Wachs*.
The award ceremony will take place on May 28, 2026, at the Literaturhaus Darmstadt. The laudatory speech will be given by FAZ publisher Jürgen Kaube.
The literary prize is awarded every two years
The Darmstadt "Book of the Month" jury was founded in 1952 and monthly awards prizes to literary works that deserve special attention outside the fast-paced literary scene. Since 2022, a "Book of the Year" has also been honored with the Darmstadt jury's literary prize.
Previous winners include László F. Földényi and Cécile Wajsbrot.
The novel combines history with current issues
The novel "Wax" is set in 18th-century Paris. It centers on Marie Biheron, who creates anatomical wax models of plants, animals, and humans and intensively studies the human body.
The jury particularly commended the novel's concise language, historical awareness, and contemporary relevance. The work also raises questions about humanity, self-optimization, and the artificial shaping of life – themes that remain highly relevant today.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PM)
