The literary debut “Glaszeit” by Leh-Wei Liao, a visual arts student at the Kunsthochschule Kassel, was shortlisted for the Bavarian Book Prize and longlisted for the German Book Prize in 2026.
Published on 19 August 2026 by Luchterhand Literatur, the novel is set in Taipei and tells the story of a family whose personal history is closely intertwined with the social and political upheavals in Taiwan. At its heart are questions of origin and identity, memory and family relationships, as well as the relationship between art and social reality.
“A major theme running through the novel is the act of seeing and being seen. To be seen is to exist, and it is a prerequisite for survival. This applies to Taiwan, which is systematically overlooked on the international stage, but also to the premature babies in the intensive care unit, who are fundamentally dependent on the care of others. And it applies to Novana, who as a child experienced a fundamental sense of invisibility, and who, in her romantic relationship with Sihan, is given a new chance to be truly seen,” said Leh-Wei Liao in an interview.
With these two nominations, the debut novel is already attracting significant attention in the German-speaking literary world shortly after its publication. The award ceremonies will take place in autumn 2026.
Leh-Wei Liao, born in Göttingen in 1993, is a doctor and is currently studying visual arts at the Kunsthochschule Kassel. She has been writing since 2022 and has since published in numerous literary magazines, including ‘Jenny’ and ‘Edit’. In 2024, she was a scholarship holder of the Jürgen Ponto Foundation and the Kölner Schmiede.
The dates for the readings from “Glaszeit” can be found at:
www.penguin.de