Vienna to purchase Elfriede Jelinek archive for 600,000 euros

The City of Vienna has announced the acquisition of a partial archive from Nobel Prize-winning author Elfriede Jelinek for the Vienna City Library located in the City Hall. The purchase price is set at 600,000 euros, a figure determined through both internal and external expert assessments.

The collection includes manuscripts, typescripts, correspondence, and personal documents spanning from Jelinek’s early journalistic work through the 2000s. It also contains collections she assembled regarding the reception of her own work. This acquisition, described as a “cultural heritage of world class,” is intended to be scientifically processed and made accessible to the public.

The announcement coincides with Jelinek’s upcoming 80th birthday on October 20. City officials noted that preserving her literary archive in Vienna is a significant step for international literary research and the city's cultural legacy.