"Holding up a mirror"

Author Elfriede Jelinek honored by Van der Bellen

Writer Elfriede Jelinek has received another award. She received the Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria. "Elfriede Jelinek has made waves with her work," said Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen.

"She has held up a mirror to the country, she has polarized, she has been vilified and yet she has remained true to herself with a perseverance that deserves the highest recognition," the politician continued. The 77-year-old writer was born in Styria and now lives in Vienna and Munich. She has received several awards for her work, including the Nobel Prize for Literature (2004), the Nestroy Theater Prize and the Georg Büchner Prize. Since last year, the artist has also been an honorary citizen of the city of Vienna.

"Nestbeschmutzer" discussion
One of her best-known novels is "Die Klavierspielerin" (1983), other works include the dramas "Ein Sportstück" (1998), "Was geschah, nachdem Nora ihren Mann verlassen hatte oder Stützen der Gesellschaften" (1977) and "Winterreise" (2011). Jelinek writes against grievances in public, political and private life in Austrian society. Her themes and style have earned her accusations of "soiling Austria", among other things. Opponents repeatedly tried to prevent performances of Jelinek's plays.