DUBLIN, IRELAND \u2014 Of Darkness,<\/span> the bestselling, award-winning novel by Denmark\u2019s Josefine Klougart<\/span> (\u201cthe Virginia Woolf of Scandinavia\u201d), translated from the Danish by Martin Aitken<\/span> and published by Deep Vellum in Dallas, Texas, has been nominated for the 2019 International DUBLIN Literary Award.<\/p>\n

This is the third nomination for a Deep Vellum book for this prestigious award, following Texas: The Great Theft<\/span> by Carmen Boullosa<\/span> (tr. Samantha Schnee<\/span>) in 2016, and La Superba<\/span> by Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer<\/span> (tr. Michele Hutchison<\/span>) in 2018.<\/p>\n

Of Darkness<\/span> is among 141 titles nominated by libraries worldwide for the \u20ac100,000 International DUBLIN Literary Award, the world\u2019s most valuable annual literary prize for a single work of fiction published in English. Nominations include 39 novels in translation with works by authors from 41 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, the United States and Canada, South America and Australia, and New Zealand.<\/p>\n

Organized by the Dublin City Council, the 2019 Award was launched on November 19 by Lord Mayor Nial Ring, patron of the award, who commended the award for its promotion of excellence in world literature as well as for the opportunity to promote Irish writing internationally. \u201cDublin is a UNESCO City of Literature and cultural tourism is a vital part of the city\u2019s economy,\u201d he said. \u201cThis prestigious award enhances the city\u2019s worldwide reputation as a literary destination.\u201d<\/p>\n

The International DUBLIN Literary Award is managed by Dublin City Council\u2019s library service. Brendan Teeling, Acting Dublin City Librarian, announced that the 141 books eligible for the 2019 award were nominated by libraries in 115 cities and 41 countries worldwide, noting that 39 are titles in translation \u2014 spanning 16 languages \u2014 and 48 are first novels.<\/p>\n

The 2019 judging panel comprises \u00c9il\u00eds N\u00ed Dhuibhne,<\/span> bilingual Irish novelist and story writer; Martin Middeke,<\/span> professor of English at the University of Augsburg, Germany; Hans Christian Oeser,<\/span> translator, editor and travel writer; Evie Wyld,<\/span> novelist and bookseller; and Ge Yan,<\/span> author and PhD candidate in comparative literature. The non-voting chairperson is Eugene R. Sullivan.<\/span><\/p>\n