Jehona Kicaj’s ‘ë’ dominates Germany’s bestseller lists and Book Prize shortlist

A forgotten war finds its voice in fiction. Kicaj’s raw, unflinching novel forces Germany to confront a history it rarely discusses—while topping the charts.

, and Administrator

2025 December 1 . 7:08 AM

1 min read

There is an open book on which something is written.

Jehona Kicaj’s ‘ë’ dominates Germany’s bestseller lists and Book Prize shortlist

Jehona Kicaj's debut novel 'ë' has topped the Prolit bestseller list for September. The book, released on July 23, also secured her a place on the 2025 German Book Prize shortlist. Born in Kosovo in 1991, Kicaj grew up in Göttingen before moving to Hanover. There, she studied philosophy, German literature, and modern German studies. Her novel 'ë' explores the Kosovo War, a conflict rarely discussed in Germany. Kicaj's 'ë' now leads the Prolit list while competing for the German Book Prize. The novel's success brings attention to a lesser-known historical conflict. Meanwhile, publishers and authors continue to introduce fresh works to readers.