Book of the Year is Forsaken Society. Is our Democracy at Risk?
The Magnesium Litera award has been handed out since 2002, evaluating the Czech literary creation. The gala ceremony for last year took place on 4. 4. at the New Scene of the National Theatre. The gala evening was hosted by Daniela Písařovicová and Jiří Havelka.
The book points to threats to our democracy
The prizes are traditionally awarded in several categories and the main prize is the Book of the Year, yesterday awarded to Editor-in-Chief of the Respekt magazine, Erik Tabery for his book Forsaken Society with the subtitle Czech Path, from Masaryk to Babiš.
The book maps out the political situation, describing the danger in which our democracy found itself. Tabery´s considerations are based on the given facts and provide the reader with an opportunity of assessing the political situation for himself. It analyses the achievements of Czech political populists, deals with the weakening influence of public media and points to the strength of misinforming websites. It celebrates education and honest journalism.
Readers elected Saturnin
The Magnesia Litera awards were also affected by the 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia. From each year, starting with 1918, one book was selected, voted upon by experts as well as the general public. At the gala celebration, three best books of the century were announced. Readers voted for the famous humoristic novel, Saturnin (1942), by Zdeněk Jirotka; the professionals elected The Good Soldier Švejk during One Hundred Years of War (1921) by Jaroslav Hašek.
For the first time in history, this year there has also been awarded a prize for poetry, entitled Moleskine Litera for Poetry. This was obtained by Milan Děžinský for the book Circumvention of the Island.
Importance of the awards for the authors
Magnesia Litera represents the most prestigious award in the area of literature in the Czech Republic. The prize is very coveted by the authors, since it increases their publicity, hand in hand, of course, with readership and marketability of their books. The winner of the Book of the Year also receives a gift to the value of CZK 200,000, the best poet CZK 30,000.
