Kinsky_Esther_River
2020 Longlist

River

Translated from the German by Iain Galbraith
artwork-image

ABOUT
THE BOOK

In River, a woman moves to a London suburb for reasons that are unclear. She takes long, solitary walks by the River Lea, observing and describing her surroundings and the unusual characters she encounters. Over the course of these wanderings she amasses a collection of found objects and photographs and is drawn into reminiscences of the different rivers which haunted the various stages of her life, from the Rhine, where she grew up, to the Saint Lawrence, the Hooghly, and the banks of the Oder. Written in language that is as precise as it is limpid, River is a remarkable novel, full of poignant images and poetic observations, an ode to nature, edge lands, and the transience of all things human.

ABOUT
THE AUTHOR Esther
Kinsky

Esther Kinsky grew up by the river Rhine and lived in London for twelve years. She has written three volumes of poetry, two novels and has translated many notable English and Polish authors into German. River won the Adelbert von Chamisso Prize 2016, the Franz Hessel Prize 2014 and the Kranichsteiner Literature Prize 2015 amongst others. Photo Credit: Matthes Seitz

Esther Kinsky grew up by the river Rhine and lived in London for twelve years. She has written three volumes of poetry, two novels and has translated many notable English and Polish authors into German. River won the Adelbert von Chamisso Prize 2016, the Franz Hessel Prize 2014 and the Kranichsteiner Literature Prize 2015 amongst others. Photo Credit: Matthes Seitz

ABOUT
THE TRANSLATOR Iain
Galbraith

NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

Ester Kinsky’s River is a foreigners’ journey along the river Lea in east London.  With a slow pace she explores the landscape of the metropolis where she wallows in memories. Seemingly without a sense of time, the authors’ descriptions are vivid and memorable, reminiscent of Thoreau’s style that transforms the mundane object into something romantic.  There are encounters with outcasts that are equally misplaced as the landscape itself but the focus rests on nature and environment. Kinsky’s beautiful language is complemented with blurry Polaroids, shot by the protagonist, that are vague, just like the books’ non-linear timeline. An almost-biographical novel which is built upon previous poetry by Kinsky that delved into the river subject.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Country
Germany
Original Language
German
Author
Publisher
Fitzcarraldo Editions
Translator
Iain Galbraith
Translation
Translated from the German by Iain Galbraith

RELATED FEATURES

Video November 1 2024

2024 Dublin Literary Award Ceremony

2024 Dublin Literary Award Ceremony with broadcaster Rick O'Shea. Livestreamed from the International Literature Festival Dublin in Merrion Square Park on Thursday 23rd May 2024.
Audio June 11 2024

All About Books Podcast Features the 2024 Dublin Literary Award

Dublin City FM podcaster Katy Conneely spotlights the award.
Video June 5 2024

2024 Winners Mircea Cărtărescu & Sean Cotter in conversation

with Journalist Alex Clarke at the International Literature Festival Dublin.
Video May 31 2024

2024 Winner Ceremony Highlights

Author Mircea Cărtărescu & translator Sean Cotter presented with the DLA Award at ILFD.

STAY CONNECTED

Stay in touch and sign up to our newsletter to receive all the latest news and updates on the Dublin Literary Award.