News
The young Swiss writer Nelio Biderman, 22, has become a literary phenomenon after the success of his novel Lazar, which topped book charts in Germany for weeks and drew critical attention for its classical style and historical scope despite the author’s age.
Details
• He began writing the novel in his teenage years, drawing on the aristocratic history of his family in Hungary.
• The novel follows several generations of one family between 1900 and 1956 amid wars and political upheaval.
• He blended realism with magical elements to move beyond the sensitivities involved in changing real family events.
• The novel stayed on Germany’s bestseller list for 29 weeks.
• The work prompted comparisons with Buddenbrooks and the novels of Gabriel García Márquez.
• Plans are underway to adapt the novel into a feature film.
• Biderman is continuing his university studies while also managing his literary fame.
What next?
Attention is now turning to the novel’s English edition and how far it can travel internationally, with further interest in its prospects as a film adaptation.
