Elfriede Jelinek is alive! False death report causes confusion

Elfriede Jelinek is alive! False death report causes confusion

On June 17, 2025, there was great sadness in Austria when news of the alleged death of Nobel Prize winner Elfriede Jelinek spread. But this report turned out to be false information. According to 5min.at, a spokeswoman for Rowohlt Verlag confirmed that 78-year-old Jelinek is in good health.

The rumor mill about Jelinek has already been active in the past. On July 24, 2024, an internet post circulated that falsely reported her death. According to dpa-factchecking.com, this post was allegedly written by the German writer Jenny Erpenbeck, who vehemently defended herself against the false report and announced that she would take criminal action.

Elfriede Jelinek's literary significance

Elfriede Jelinek is not only one of the most important literary voices in the German-speaking world, but also the first Austrian author to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2004. The Swedish Academy honored her for her “innovative linguistic art and socially critical works,” as literaturkritik.de notes.

Jelinek, who most recently lived in Vienna and Munich, is particularly known for her works such as “The Piano Player”, “Lust” and “The Children of the Dead”. Her texts promote a critical examination of gender relations, power relations and social grievances. Despite international recognition, their reception is often mixed. Critics often accuse her works of exaggerated social criticism or of being perceived as outdated.

Controversies and reception

The debate over Jelinek's works reflects deeper conflicts over engaged literature and creative aesthetics. While some of her texts are described as complex discussions of language and discourse, others express that their literary quality is questionable and criticize a possible monotony in their themes and stylistic devices. Opinions about her Nobel Prize award are divided; While some recognize her merits, others argue that there were other authors who were more deserving of the prize.

In summary, Elfriede Jelinek's legacy remains a polarized topic in the literary scene, often inflaming emotions and perpetuating discussion about the role of literature in society. Despite the current false reports, the author's literary achievements are undisputed and continue to shape Austria's intellectual landscape.