I warmly congratulate Inger-Maria Mahlke on being awarded the German Book Prize. Her novel Archipel (Archipelago) is an impressive and vitally important statement, particularly in our current times, denouncing tendencies which would like to see renationalisation in Europe. Inger-Maria Mahlke shows us how closely the various epochs of European history and its peoples are intertwined. Through her close affinity with the characters and her realistic depiction of everyday life, Inger-Maria Mahlke has created a unique unprecedented portrayal of European history.