Juries do not assess only the book itself, but also the author who wrote it. This is the conclusion of research conducted by PhD candidate Anne Oerlemans. As a result, some authors are less likely to win a literary prize. Oerlemans will defend her PhD on 19 March 2026 at Radboud University.
Each year in the Netherlands, several literary debut prizes are awarded to new authors. Winning such a prize brings both recognition and opportunities within the literary world. It attracts media attention, and publishers are more likely to consider a second book by the author commercially viable. Authors also gain increased international attention after winning a national award.
Research by Anne Oerlemans shows that not all’authors have an equal chance of winning a prize. The researcher gained access to unfiltered jury reports from the ANV Debutantenprijs. "Although one might assume that juries assess a book on its own merits and that the author’s identity should not matter, the jury minutes reveal that, at least in the case of the ANV Debutantenprijs, the author’s background does play a role in the evaluation of literature. Authors who pursue another career alongside writing are, for instance, taken less seriously as literary authors. My research shows that jury assessments are certainly not always objective."
Toiling for art’s sake
There is a romanticised image among juries of what constitutes a ’true’ author, Oerlemans explains. "A ’real’ author is someone who has the time and space to toil away in an attic room all day in the name of art. In practice, only a handful of authors can make a living solely from writing; most have another job or run their own business and write alongside that."
According to Oerlemans, the books written by this latter group of authors are often taken less seriously and are less likely to win a literary debut prize. She observed in the jury minutes that when a jury deemed a book not strong enough for the shortlist, the author’s profession or background was mentioned more frequently than in the case of authors who (appear to) write full-time. "This effectively excludes a segment of authors, meaning they are also less likely to benefit from winning a literary prize."
New voices
Oerlemans’ research also shows that there is a fairly strong consensus in the Netherlands about what constitutes good literature: books with a chronological structure and a particular writing style. Stories and characters are expected to come across as authentic and believable. Juries play a significant role in shaping these standards. "They could also choose to give more experimental debuts greater attention and opportunities. At present, such works stand much less chance of winning a prize," she says. "But who ultimately decides what counts as good literature?"
As a response, Oerlemans founded her own publishing house several years ago to provide a platform for new voices. "I mainly publish translations of books that I personally consider outstanding. These titles may be less commercially attractive to larger publishers because they are less accessible to a wide audience, but I believe they deserve a chance as well. By publishing these works, I hope to contribute to a more diverse literary landscape in the Netherlands."
