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Granta Books has bought two books by the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize-winning author Jenny Erpenbeck.
No Novel, the first book in the deal between the German author and her longtime publisher, is a selection of her non-fiction writings “which allows us to see one of the most searching of European writers reckoning with her country's divided past in all its complexity, and offers fascinating reflections on life and literature,” Granta said. The second book is a novel.
Barber acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Sarah Chalfant at the Wylie Agency. New Directions will publish the two titles in the US.
Deputy publishing director Laura Barber said: “This new novel promises to be a treat for all existing fans of Jenny Erpenbeck and a revelation for new readers. And I am excited that Jenny’s most significant non-fiction will now be available in English: some of these pieces are timeless, some are timely, but all are delivered with Jenny’s trademark craft, eloquence, rigour and passion. Together these two books will cement Jenny’s reputation as one of the finest writers, the finest thinkers, in Europe today.”
Erpenbeck’s novel Go, Went, Gone was published by Granta’s now-defunct imprint Portobello Books in 2016. The End of Days was published by Portobello in 2014 and went on to win the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize the following year, becoming the only living German author to have won the prize in its 25-year history. She had been longlisted for the prize in 2001 for The Old Child and the Book of Words and then shortlisted in 2011 with her novel Visitation (both published by Portobello Books).
Granta Publications announced last September that it would shut its Portobello Books imprint in January 2019 and said there would be no change to output or personnel.