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Clemens J. Setz

クレメンス・J・ゼッツ

Kuremensu J. Zetsu

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1982-11-15 （Graz, Austria）
Nationality
Austrian
Languages
German
Residence History
Vienna, Austria

Career

Occupations
Writer, Translator
Active Years
2007-
Nominations
Shortlisted for the German Book Prize (Die Frequenzen) — 2009, Shortlisted for the German Book Prize (Indigo) — 2012

Awards

Leipzig Book Fair Prize
2011
Work: Die Liebe zur Zeit des Mahlstädter Kindes
Organization: Leipzig Book Fair
Result: 受賞
Wilhelm Raabe Literature Prize
2015
Work: Die Stunde zwischen Frau und Gitarre
Organization: Wilhelm Raabe Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Jakob-Wassermann-Literature Prize
2020
Work: Die Bienen und das Unsichtbare
Organization: Jakob-Wassermann Prize Committee
Result: 受賞
Kleist Prize
2020
Organization: Kleist Prize Committee
Result: 受賞（出典要確認）
Georg Büchner Prize
2021
Organization: Georg Büchner Prize Committee
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Söhne und Planeten

2007 Novel

Debut novel exploring youth and existential dislocation in an experimental style.

lonelinessidentityyouth

Die Frequenzen

2009 Novel

An experimental narrative built around motifs of frequency; shortlisted for the German Book Prize.

limits of languageanxietyformal experimentation

Die Liebe zur Zeit des Mahlstädter Kindes

2011 Short stories

A collection of short stories notable for its delicate yet unsettling voice; won the Leipzig Book Fair Prize.

love and lonelinessthe uncanny in everyday life

Indigo

2012 Novel

A lyrical, fantastical novel; shortlisted for the German Book Prize and published in English.

fantasymemorylanguage
Translations
  • English translation (2014)

Die Stunde zwischen Frau und Gitarre

2015 Novel

A novel sharply portraying delicate human relationships; recipient of the Wilhelm Raabe Literature Prize.

relationshipslonelinesscracks in the everyday

Der Trost runder Dinge

2019 Short stories

A short story collection mixing the author's characteristic unease with humor.

the uncannyhumordepartures from everyday life

Die Bienen und das Unsichtbare

2020 Novel

A recent novel with allegorical readings about existence and the invisible.

the invisibleallegoryontology

Bibliography

  • Söhne und Planeten (2007)
  • Die Frequenzen (2009)
  • Die Liebe zur Zeit des Mahlstädter Kindes (2011)
  • Zeitfrauen (2012)
  • Indigo (2012)
  • Die Vogelstraußtrompete (2014)
  • Glücklich wie Blei im Getreide (2015)
  • Die Stunde zwischen Frau und Gitarre (2015)
  • Verweilen unter schwebender Last (2016)
  • Der Trost runder Dinge (2019)
  • Die Bienen und das Unsichtbare (2020)

Translations by Author

  • John Leake — Entering Hades (translated into German)
  • Edward Gorey — The Utter Zoo; The Hapless Child; The Osbick Bird (translated into German)
  • Scott McClanahan — Sarah (translated into German)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
experimental and poetic stylecool, delicate observationincorporation of the absurd and fantastical
Recurring Motifs
loneliness and alienationlimits of languagethe uncanny in the everyday

Legacy

An Austrian contemporary writer and translator acclaimed for experimental and lyrical work. Recipient of several major literary awards and considered one of the prominent figures in contemporary German-language literature.

Trivia

  • Debuted in 2007 with the novel Söhne und Planeten.
  • Won the Leipzig Book Fair Prize in 2011 for the short story collection Die Liebe zur Zeit des Mahlstädter Kindes.
  • The novel Indigo was published in English in 2014.
  • Awarded the Georg Büchner Prize in 2021.
  • In addition to writing, he has translated works by authors such as Edward Gorey into German.