Austrian Cultural Forum Translation Prize to Damion Searls

This year's acf translation prize goes to Damion Searls – translator of Proust, Rilke, Robert Walser, Ingeborg Bachmann, Thomas Bernhard, Kurt Schwitters, Peter Handke, Christa Wolf, Stephane Hessel, Jon Fosse, Nescio and Hans Keilson – for his translation of Elfriede Jelinek's essay her not all her (on/with Robert Walser) [er nicht als er (zu, mit Robert Walser)], first published in 1998. I like what he's done with the title.

The award itself is made of Swarovski crystal and will be presented by Michael Orthofer wearing traditional Austrian dress, on Friday night in New York. The audience will be treated to speeches and apple strudel, followed by waltzing.