Austrian author Monika Helfer dies at 78 after fall

Monika Helfer, a 78‑year‑old Austrian novelist, died on 2 August 2026 after suffering a fall, the Carl Hanser Verlag confirmed to the German Press Agency. The author, who began publishing in the 1970s, gained widespread recognition with her autobiographical family trilogy – Die Bagage (2020), Vati (2021) and Löwenherz (2022) – which explores difficult family relationships from a child’s perspective. Helfer was a multiple award‑winner, receiving the Austrian Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst I. Klasse, the Angelus‑Literaturpreis, and, in January 2026, the Carl‑Zuckmayer‑Medaille for contributions to the German language. She was married to fellow writer Michael Köhlmeier and had four children. Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and other political figures publicly mourned her, praising her clear, compassionate prose that enriched Austrian literature. Her death was reported across German‑language media, noting the loss of a distinctive literary voice.