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Michel Houellebecq Wins IMPAC Dublin 2002 Award
The International IMPACDublin Literary Award 2002 is World's Richest
French writer Michel Houellebecq has won The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2002, the world's richest prize (US$91,500) for a single work of fiction with his cult second novel, Atomised (Vintage, £6.99; also published as The Elementary Particles), translated from the French by Frank Wynne.The winner was announced in Dublin on Monday 13 May, by The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Michael Mulcahy. Michel Houellebecq will receive his Award at a dinner hosted by IMPAC, at Dublin Castle on Saturday 15 June, 2002; the guest of honour will be President of Ireland, Mrs Mary McAleese.
In winning the prestigious IMPAC Award, Michel Houellebecq has successfully beaten Booker Prize winners Margaret Atwood and Peter Carey; US writer Helen DeWitt; and Irish-born Michael Collins, who lives in Seattle. The shortlist comprised seven international novels, published in the English language.
The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is unique as the original nominations are made by public libraries worldwide and are administered by Dublin City Library. Nominations for the 2002 Award were made by over 123 libraries in 38 countries.
The judging panel for 2002 described Atomised, as "a bleak yet often humorous portrayal of modern life as viewed by the novel's two protagonists - half-brothers with wildly different personalities seeking wildly different goals. The novel is filled with energy, mordant humour and wondrously passionate excess....(including) discussions of history, biology, politics, sexuality and other subjects as these affect his protagonists' lives.
For all the frustrations and failings of the brothers' separate experiences, Atomised in the end presents a highly moralistic view of these two anti-heroes, each alienated from surrounding society in his own way."
Michel Houellebecq, 44, a French poet and novelist is the author of one previous novel, Whatever. In 1998 he won the Grand Prix National des Lettres for the entirety of his literary output, and, for Atomised, the Prix Novembre.
The shortlist was announced on 11 March 2002 and included six other nominated titles:
The Blind Assassin; Margaret Atwood
True History of the Kelly Gang; Peter Carey
The Keepers of Truth; Michael Collins
The Last Samurai; Helen DeWitt
The Years with Laura Diaz; Carlos Fuentes
Madame; Antoni Libera
Previous winners:
1996 - REMEMBERING BABYLON by David Malouf
1997 - A HEART SO WHITE by Javier Mar̀as
translated by Margaret Jull Costa
1998 - THE LAND OF GREEN PLUMS by Herta M¸ller
translated by Michael Hofmann
1999 - INGENIOUS PAIN by Andrew Miller
2000 - WIDE OPEN by Nicola Barker
2001 - NO GREAT MISCHEIF by Alistair MacLeod
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