To be mistaken about the rhythm of a sentence is to be mistaken about the very meaning of that sentence.

(Friedrich Nietzsche)

Friedrich Nietzsche and Friedrich Christian Delius, Peirene’s author No 3, not only share the same name, they also both understand the vital link between meaning and rhythm. Portrait of the Mother as a Young Woman, Delius’ 117-page long sentence about a young German woman during the Nazi era, is published this month and has already attracted the critics’ attention. Nick Lezard in The Guardian postulates that this book is “one of the best ways you could conceive of getting inside the mind of a character” and Chris Waywell in Time Out gave it four stars.

Also Beside the Sea, Peirene Title No 1, is stirring up some waves again. Actor William Rycroft compared it to the Booker long-listed Room by Emma Donoghue and found that “in a far shorter work Olmi writes completely convincingly about someone alienated from the world they live in and about a mother's desire to protect her children from harm, two of Room's major themes.”

I personally am very excited that both Nick Lezard and William Rycroft in their articles throw the Peirene books into one pot with English fiction. They don’t treat them as some strange, foreign-lit aliens.

Peirene herself, on the other hand, is over the moon about some other thrilling news– her first ever nomination for a prize. In fact she made it onto the short list of the eight-cuts-gallery prize for being a genuine treasure of the literary world. The winner will be announced in October. I guess until then the Nymph will be busy pondering what to wear for the gala reception.

And last but not least a quick reminder: Friedrich Christian Delius will be in London 16th to 19th September, events are scheduled for all evenings with English author Blake Morrison, BBC journalist Rosie Goldsmith, book blogger Kim Forrester, reviewer Chris Schueler and translator Jamie Bulloch.

Needless to say: Peirene, Maddy and I would be delighted to see you there.

Best wishes Meike
 

• Guardian review of Portrait
• Time Out review of Portrait
• Rycroft's review of Beside the Sea
• Eight Cuts Gallery Prize
• Events with Peirene author Delius in London