1997 Winner

1997

Translated by

Margaret Jull Costa

Nominated by Biblioteques de Barcelona, Stadtbibliothek Hannover, Bibliotecas Municipales de Madrid
artwork-image

Judges

Jane Urquhart

Jane Urquhart

Jane Urquhart is a Canadian novelist and poet. She is the internationally acclaimed author of seven award-winning novels, three books of poetry and numerous short stories. As a novelist, Urquhart is well known for her evocative style which blends history with the present day. Her first novel, The Whirlpool (published 1986), gained her international recognition when she became the first Canadian to win France’s prestigious Prix du Meilleur Livre Etranger (Best Foreign Book Award). Her subsequent novels were even more successful. Away, published in 1993, won the Trillium Award and was a national bestseller. In 1997, her fourth novel, The Underpainter, won the Governor General’s Literary Award.

Josef Škvorecký

Josef Škvorecký

Josef Škvorecký CM was a Czech-Canadian writer and publisher. He spent half of his life in Canada, publishing and supporting banned Czech literature during the communist era. Škvorecký was awarded the Neustadt International Prize for Literature in 1980.

Margaret Drabble

Margaret Drabble

Dame Margaret Drabble, Lady Holroyd, DBE, FRSL is an English biographer, novelist and short story writer. Drabble’s books include The Millstone, which won the following year’s John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize, and Jerusalem the Golden, which won the 1967 James Tait Black Memorial Prize.

Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill

Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill

uala Ni Dhomhnaill is one of the most prominent poets writing in the Irish language today. Her poetry has been translated into English by a number of well-known Irish poets, including Seamus Heaney, Medbh McGuckian, and Paul Muldoon. Irish themes, including language, are central to her poetry and range from ancient myths to small details of contemporary life. Her first collection was published in 1981, and the translation Selected Poems: Rogha Danta appeared in 1986. Her works have since been translated into Italian, Japanese, and Turkish.

Shawn Wong

Shawn Wong

Shawn K. Wong is a Chinese American author and scholar. He has served as the Professor of English, Director of the University Honors Program (2003–06), Chair of the Department of English (1997–2002), and Director of the Creative Writing Program (1995–97) at the University of Washington, where he has been on the faculty since 1984 and teaches courses covering critical theory, Asian American studies, which he is considered a pioneer in, and fiction writing.

SHORTLIST LIBRARIES

Portugal
The Lisbon Libraries, or BLX – Lisbon Libraries, are a set of libraries created and active in the municipality of Lisbon, the first being created..
Spain
The library network facilitates free access for all citizens to information and knowledge, and encourages reading.
Jamaica
The Jamaica Library Service was established in 1948 and provides, under the Ministry of Education and Youth, a Library Service free to the public and..
Germany
The Leipziger Städtische Bibliotheken (LSB) are an important part of the city’s cultural and educational landscape and provide centres for communication and information, reading promotion..
England
See the famous collections of rare books housed in the magnificent Hornby Library and Oak Room. View the impressive Picton Reading Room, one of the..
Canada
OPL’s vision is to build community and transform lives; our mission is to inspire learning, spark curiosity, and connect people; our core values are Community,..
USA
The Pima County Public Library (PCPL) system serves Pima County, Arizona, with a main library and 26 branch libraries as well as a bookmobile service.
Sweden
Did you know that the library is always open? It is if you visit the library online via a computer, mobile phone or tablet PC…
United States
Canada
Toronto Public Library is the busiest urban public library system in the world. Every year, we have millions of users visiting our branches and taking..
Canada
Vancouver Public Library has been dedicated to meeting the lifelong learning, reading and information needs of Vancouver residents for more than 100 years.
New Zealand
Our libraries are community focal points, providing knowledge facilities and resources in a welcoming environment. At the moment our main central Library is undergoing a..

RELATED FEATURES

News January 15 2025

2025 Longlist Revealed

Novels by seven Irish authors are among the 71 books nominated by 83 libraries around the world!
News November 19 2024

2025 Dublin Literary Award Judges Announced

Meet our judging panel for 2025 Dublin Literary Award
Video November 1 2024

2024 Dublin Literary Award Ceremony

2024 Dublin Literary Award Ceremony announcement live-streamed from the International Literature Festival Dublin.
Audio June 11 2024

All About Books Podcast Features the 2024 Dublin Literary Award

Dublin City FM podcaster Katy Conneely spotlights the award.

STAY CONNECTED

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