Günter Grass -Wikipedia foto -source Bild:Grass.jpg - Author - Florian K
His novel, “Zeitoun”, was considered by the Günter Grass Foundation to be an ‘impressive plea for moral courage’ in the modern fast moving world.
It deals with an American-Syrian businessman who gets innocently targeted by terrorism investigators. http://www.gradesaver.com/zeitoun/wikipedia/plot-summary/
It is to be lamented that Eggers does not seem to have any of the moral courage of his self-created protagonist – he has canceled his participation in today’s presentation ceremony.
Eggers has indicated that he will accept the prize and seems more than happy to receive the prize money – “take the money and run!”.*
A shabby, discreditable and opportunist way to deal with the acceptance of a literary prize. Is this perhaps a question of an author being muzzled by his publishers ? Who knows, however the only honorable thing for the author himself to have done would be explain his absence and then not accept the prize and money.
The author will share the prize of 40,000 Euro Albatross award with the translators Ulrike Wesel and Klaus Zimmermann.
*[Take the Money and Run is a 1969 comedy film written by Woody Allen and Mickey Rose]
If you read German – see also http://diepresse.com/home/kultur/literatur/748823/USAutor-bleibt-Preisverleihung-der-GrassStiftung-fern?_vl_backlink=/home/politik/aussenpolitik/746592/index.do&direct=746592
To follow the recent events regarding the publishing of Grass’s poem please see the previous blog articles on this blog – http://www.ota-berlin.de/blog/04/04/gunter-grass-speaks-out-atommach-israel-gefahr-fur-den-weltfrieden-israel-a-danger-to-world-peace-what-must-be-said-commentary-by-ota-berlin-constituency-blog-contributor-mr-emil/
“Albatross” Literature Prize of the Günter Grass Foundation in Bremen – Dave Eggers takes the money and runs – by OTA-Berlin Constituency Blog contributor Mr Emil Hoogensteyn from OTA Berlin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Germany License. If you use this article or parts of it, please refer to http://www.ota-berlin.de.
Tags: 'Israel a danger to World Peace' Günter Grass, author being muzzled by his publishers, dave eggers, Dave Eggers takes the money and runs, Dave Eggers will accept the money thank you very much, Eggers money yes - show up no thanks, Eggers Zeitoun, Günter Grass, Günter Grass 'Atommach Israel Gefahr für den Weltfrieden', Günter Grass speaks out, HAARETZ, Supporters gather around Grass, Take the Money and Run, Zeitoun"
Hmm, maybe it is even more difficult to be a player on the North American cultural scene and preserve you moral integrity, let alone courage, than it is in Germany? Maybe he does not want to do a Franzen? And he certainly does not have the stature of Grass yet. So maybe we are asking a bit much of the man. His translators probably have far less to lose by attending the ceremony.
It seems that Grass may have more idea about what an authors responsibilities are than Eggers.
Grass could have just shut up and said nothing – the easy way out.
Eggers has said nothing – the easy way out – and yes please send the money. Pretty vile./sc
In fact, Eggers asked that “the prize money for the award be given to agencies in Germany that promote interfaith understanding”.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/16/eggers-shuns-gunter-grass-prize
Gudrun Faehndrich, spokeswoman for Eggers’ German publisher Kiepenheuer and Witsch, said the writer would still accept the award ─ and its 40,000 euros ($53,000) in prize money, to be shared with his German translators.
Eggers said he plans to donate part of the sum.
Emil Hoogensteyn replies – Reader Lenny is correct-partially as can be seen in the above link.
To this I would answer….A little bit late and why not donate the entire sum? – Eggers takes the money and runs – still to brandish the author as and ingrate is correct.
It seems that Günter Grass was admitted to hospital today – http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g00sv1pfesMyc6mTbHAZplNdFXvA?docId=CNG.4950c0f67e13086fe38f02331e0333bb.411
Probably too much to ask Eggers to send him a get-well-card.
Great Jokes…
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