Annual Latvian Literature Award (LALIGABA) is the most important event celebrating literature in Latvia and providing professional assessment of literary works and recognition of authors for their outstanding works published in Latvia during the year.
The committee of experts of the Annual Latvian Literature Award (LALIGABA) consists of nine judges – writer Dace Rukšāne-Ščipčinska, literary critic and historian Sigita Kušnere, writer and editor Rudīte Kalpiņa, writer and critic Guntis Berelis, culture journalist and literary projects manager Liega Piešiņa, literary critic and historian Sandra Ratniece, literary tutor Ilze Mazpane, literary critic and historian Eva Eglāja–Kristsone and writer Egīls Venters. Awards for best work of poetry, prose, children's literature, best translations, as well as best début of 2016 were awarded to:
BEST WORK OF POETRY
Ronalds Briedis “Zāles pret nemirstību” [Medicine Against Immortality], Neputns
Juris Kronbergs „Uz balkona / bet ja visu laiku…” [On a balcony/ what if all the time... ], Dienas Grāmata
Edvīns Raups “Uguns nedrošs pulss” [Fire Hazardous Pulse], Jānis Roze Publishers
Māris Salējs “Kā pirms pērkona” [Before Thunder], Pētergailis
Ruta Štelmahere “Krekls” [Shirt], Neputns
BEST PROSE
Pauls Bankovskis “Trakie veči” [Mad Guys], Dienas Grāmata
Jana Egle “Gaismā” [Into the Light], Lauku Avīze
Laima Kota “Istaba” [The Room], Dienas Grāmata
Gundega Repše “Bogene”, Dienas Grāmata
BEST ORIGINAL CHILDREN'S BOOK
Uldis Auseklis “Kaķēns margrietiņās” [A Kitten in Daisies], Lauku Avīze
Lilija Berzinska “Lamzaks meklē Lamzaku” [Lanky looking for Lanky], Dienas Grāmata
Lelde Stumbre “Pūcīte ar zeltainajām acīm” [Owlie with Golden Eyes], Zvaigzne ABC
Kārlis Vērdiņš “Tētis” [Dad], Liels un Mazs
BEST TRANSLATION
Dens Dimiņš, translation of Louis-Ferdinand Céline's “Journey to the End of the Night” [Ceļojums līdz nakts galam], Jānis Roze Publishers
Maima Grīnberga, translation of Jaan Undusk's collection of essays “Bolshevism and Culture” [Boļševisms un kultūra], Neputns
Māra Poļakova, translation of Serhiy Zhadan's novel “Jazz in Donbass” [Džezs pār Donbasu], Jānis Roze Publishers
Zigurds Skābardis, translation of Irvine Welsh's “Porno”, Dienas Grāmata
BEST DEBUT
Svens Kuzmins “Pilsētas šamaņi” [Urban Shamans], Dienas Grāmata
Ilga Raščevska “Norakstītie” [Write-offs], Zvaigzne ABC
Jānis Tomašs “Melnie darba cimdi” [The Black Work Gloves], Pētergailis
Dace Vīgante “Ledus apelsīns” [Ice Orange], Zvaigzne ABC
The judges have decided to award a special prize for outstanding contribution to Literary science. The prize this year will be presented to the literary historian Anita Rožkalne for her research “Kārļa Zariņa burvju aplis” [The Magic Circle of Kārlis Zariņš] , published by the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia.
The committee voted to give the Lifetime Achievement Award to the poet and translator Uldis Bērziņš for his exceptional contribution to Latvian literature and enrichment of the Latvian cultural environment and language through translations of seminal works of world literature.
The Annual Latvian Literature Award ceremony will be held on 21st April, 2017, 18:00 pm., in the “Daile” music hall.
