Homer (Literature Prize)

The HOMER Literature Prize ( original spelling ) is a German literature prize that has been awarded since 2014 for historical fiction published in the previous year . Works are considered to be historical novels if the plot is essentially set before 1930. The prize is awarded by a jury on behalf of the HOMER - Historische Literatur eV association, an association of historical novelists. The aim of both the award and the association is to make the genre "historical novel" and its authors better known to the reading public. The award ceremony takes place in a festive setting, with the winners receiving a medal, a certificate and a symbolic gift. In addition, advertising material is made available for publishers and bookstores.

The prize was originally awarded in the following categories:

• Crime & Thriller: the key is the investigation of a crime, whereby the type and form of investigation correspond to the character of the respective epoch and culture
• Biography: central is the portrayal of the life of a historical figure
• Relationship & society: what is central is a relationship, typically a love story, and its development against a historical background
• Tension & Adventure: The focus is on tension, the main characters experience adventure in a historical context

A best short story was also honored by 2015. In each category there were originally three prizes, which were referred to as the Golden , Silver and Bronze HOMER . As of 2016, there was only one winner in each category, selected from a shortlist . In 2018 the categories were given up and there have been three prizes since then, now again called Golden , Silver and Bronze HOMER .

Award winners

Previous winners were:

2019

• 1st prize: Eva Völler for Tulip Gold
• 2nd prize: Susanne Goga for the night at Askanischer Platz
• 3rd prize: Petra Durst-Benning for The Photographer

2018

• 1st prize: Maria W. Peter for The Fortress on the Rhine
• 2nd prize: Kay Jacobs for Kiel Heroes
• 3rd prize: Jørn Precht for The Secret of Dr. Alzheimer

2017

• Crime & Thriller: Peter Orontes for Inquisition's Daughter
• Biography: Oliver Plaschka for Marco Polo - Until the end of the world
• Relationship & Society: Helga Glaesener for Die Postmeisterin
• Suspense & Adventure: Richard Dübell for Die Krone des Schicksals

2016

• Crime & Thriller: Gerhard Loibelsberger for The Executioner of Vienna
• Biography: Liliana Le Hingrat for The Dark Heart of the World
• Relationship & Society: Titus Müller for Berlin Tierra del Fuego
• Excitement & adventure: Claudius Crönert for Freyas Land

2015

Crime & Thriller:

• 1st prize: Susanne Goga for murder in Babelsberg
• 2nd prize: Susann Rosemann for The False Patrician
• 3rd Prize: Robert C. Marley for Inspector Swanson - and the Curse of the Hope Diamond

Biography:

• 1st prize: Tanja Kinkel for Manduchai - the last warrior queen
• 2nd prize: Sabine Weigand for The Queen's Book
• 3rd prize: Peter Prange for Ich, Maximilian, Kaiser der Welt

Relationship & Society:

• 1st prize: Spang Marita for love of witches
• 2nd prize: Beate Sauer for The Guardian of the Crown
• 3rd prize: Ursula Niehaus for the city doctor

Excitement & Adventure:

• 1st prize: Stolzenburg Silvia for The Kingdom of the Devil Prince
• 2nd prize: Daniel Wolf for The Light of the World
• 3rd prize: Roman Rausch for The Last Jewess of Würzburg

Short story:

• 1st prize: Christian Lange for Trau Nobody!
• 2nd prize: Anja Grevener for Die fierigen Schilde
• 3rd prize: Andreas P. Pittler for Othello in Favoriten

2014

Crime & Thriller:

• 1st prize: Oliver Pötzsch for The Witcher and the Hangman's Daughter
• 2nd prize: Gerhard Loibelsberger for the death waltz
• 3rd prize: Ulrike Ladnar for early spring in Vienna

Biography:

• 1st prize: Silvia Stolzenburg for Der Teufelsfürst
• 2nd prize: Martina Sahler for White Nights, Wide Country
• 3rd prize: Claudia Beinert & Nadja Beinert for The Lady of the Cathedral

Relationship & Society:

• 1st prize: Heidi Rehn for the master builder's love
• 2nd prize: Oliver Pötzsch for The Castle of the Kings
• 3rd prize: Silvia Stolzenburg for daughters of the lagoon

Excitement & Adventure:

• 1st prize: Daniel Wolf for The Salt of the Earth
• 2nd prize: Ulf Schiewe for The Sword of the Normans
• 3rd prize: Ulf Schiewe for The Whore Babylon

Short story:

• 1st prize: Guido Dieckmann for Creeping Poison
• 2nd prize: Iny Lorentz for rat poison
• 3rd prize: Friederike Schmöe for the maid's secret knowledge

Honorary Homer Prize to Iny Lorentz for her special services in the field of historical novels.

Web links

• official page

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Homer Prices ( Memento of October 22, 2017 in the Internet Archive ), overview of the old price categories.
2. ↑ Golden Homer 2019 for "Tulip Gold" by Eva Völler , report on Buchmarkt.de from November 26, 2019, accessed on November 28, 2019.
3. ↑ HOMER Literature Prize 2018 , accessed on November 28, 2019.
4. ↑ The HOMER Gala 2017 ( Memento from February 26, 2018 in the Internet Archive ).
5. ↑ Goldener HOMER awarded , report on Buchjournal.de from November 1, 2017, accessed on November 28, 2019.
6. ↑ The HOMER shortlist 2016 , accessed on November 28, 2019.
7. ↑ Homer Literature Prize 2016 , Facebook post by Liliana Le Hingrat, accessed on November 28, 2019.
8. ↑ HOMER 2015: The winners are ... , accessed on November 28, 2019.
9. ↑ "The Salt of the Earth" wins the Golden HOMER , contribution by Daniel Wolf, accessed on November 28, 2019.