Italian writer Claudio Magris has been awarded the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, one of the country's most prestigious literary prizes. It is given annually for the efforts of artists and scholars to overcome hatred. A native of Trieste, the 70-year old writer became well-known in 1986 for his book Danube: a sentimental journey from the source to the Black Sea, in which he analyzes the culture and conflicts of Central Europe.

Magris' writing has always focused on the problems that arise from different cultures and ethnic groups living together. Many of his books deal with the old Austro-Hungarian Empire, which his hometown once was a part of.

His own family history reflects the multicultural tapestry of this region and the interlocking cultures on the north and south slopes of the Alps. 

Two days befire receiving the prize, Magris voiced his distaste at the "pop" politics in France and his native Italy. He said the conduct of politics under Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and to some extent under French President Nicolas Sarkozy was not aligned with the classic rules of democracy.

"Beforehand I would not have believed that sort of thing was possible," he told an audience at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
"It's unthinkable in a democracy to say you don't accept the rulings of your constitutional court," said Magris, referring to recent remarks by Berlusconi about the Rome court's decision to remove his immunity from prosecution over his business affairs.

Magris said a "European state" was needed. Compared to serious trans-national problems such as migration, most nation-level problems were risible, he said. Europe now had the opportunity to think "universally."

Magris had a brief political career as a Left Alliance senator in Rome for Trieste from 1994 to 1996.
His selection in June for the prize brought renewed interest in his philosophical ideas and incisive writing, and revived speculation that he was in line for the Nobel Prize for Literature.

However some German arts commentators criticized the choice, saying his enthusiastic vision of European unity was out of date at a time when many EU citizens are bored with European Union politics and nationalism is rampant again.

Administered by the Börsenverein, the German association of publishers and booksellers, the prize is to be handed over at an Sunday ceremony. It was attended by German leaders, at the close of the Book Fair.

Magris was born April 10, 1939 and attended the universities of Turin in Italy and Freiburg in Germany and was then a professor of German literature at Triest and Turin from 1968 till 2006.

DPA via Deutsche Welle/germerica