Wissenswertes

Was instructed in piano, organ, guitar, viola and recorder from an early age because her mother planned a career as musician for her.

One of the most vocal critics of Austria's current right-wing government. She also a strong supporter of feminism.

Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for 2004 (announced 8 October 2004).

Her father, of Czech origin, was a chemist, her mother was from a prosperous Vienna family. She was immortalized in the character of the mother in the movie Die Klavierspielerin (2001) which is based on Jelinek's novel.

Her most famous novels are "Die Lieberhaberinnen" (1975, "Woman As Lovers"), "Die Klavierspielerin" (1983, "The Piano Teacher"), "Lust" (1989, "Lust") and "Gier" (2000, "Greed").