# Judith Fanto Wins 2026 NS Public Prize for Novel Narcis The historical novel secured nearly one-third of total votes in the annual competition. - **Source:** [NOS Nieuws](https://nos.nl) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [culture](https://brifing.si/c/culture) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/1e21a04a-0fcf-4b8c-80bc-246e87fd4a28 ## Public Prize Victory Author Judith Fanto has officially won the 2026 NS Publieksprijs for her novel Narcis. The announcement was made during the television program EenVandaag, confirming her victory among six nominees. Fanto receives a 7,500 euro cash prize and a commemorative sculpture for her achievement in this year's edition of the contest. ## Voting Statistics The 25th edition of the prestigious literary award saw a total of 131,000 votes cast by the public. Fanto’s novel Narcis secured nearly one-third of all votes, which the organizing committee described as an impressive share. This high level of engagement highlights the continued popularity of the NS Publieksprijs among readers. ## Historical Research Basis CPNB director Janneke Staarink praised the book for being based on careful and highly detailed research. The narrative is deeply rooted in historical accuracy, reflecting Fanto's commitment to portraying the era authentically. This scholarly approach to fiction writing was a significant factor in the book's reception by the voting public. ## Setting and Plot The story takes place in Vienna during the tumultuous period between the First and Second World Wars. The protagonist is Manno, a Dutch Jew from Haarlem who spends his formative youth in the Austrian capital. The narrative explores his life and experiences within this specific, highly volatile historical European context. ## Friendship Under Pressure Manno forms a close bond with five peers during a summer camp in Vienna. However, the rise of the Nazi regime and the subsequent German annexation of Austria place immense strain on these relationships. The novel examines how political extremism and systemic hatred dismantle personal connections and threaten the lives of individuals. ## Prize Organization The NS Publieksprijs is a collaborative effort between the Stichting Collectieve Propaganda van het Nederlandse Boek and the Nederlandse Spoorwegen. This partnership aims to promote reading culture across the Netherlands by involving the public directly in the selection process. The award remains a key event in the Dutch literary calendar. ## Previous Winner Context Last year, the prize was awarded to Paulien Cornelisse for her book De verwarde cavia - Terug op kantoor. Her work captured over a quarter of all votes during that cycle. The transition from Cornelisse to Fanto marks another successful year for the popular reader-voted award program in the Netherlands. ## Legacy of Predecessors The previous winner, Paulien Cornelisse, was a highly popular author and comedian who passed away nearly two months ago due to cancer. Her legacy remains tied to the success of the award, which continues to honor significant literary contributions that resonate deeply with the Dutch reading public each year. ## Sources covering this story - https://nos.nl/l/2639205 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._