THE PIANO TEACHER

  • 570,000 copies sold!

Erika Kohut teaches piano at the Vienna Conservatory by day. But by night she trawls the porn shows of Vienna while her mother, whom she loves and hates in equal measure, waits up for her. Into this emotional pressure-cooker bounds music student and ladies’ man, Walter Klemmer. With Walter as her student, Erika spirals out of control, consumed by the ecstasy of self-destruction.

First published in 1983, ‘The Piano Teacher’ is the masterpiece of Elfriede Jelinek, Austria’s most famous writer. Directed by Michael Haneke, the film won three major prizes at the Cannes 2001 Festival including best actor Benoit Magimel and best actress for Isabelle Huppert.

Contact Foreign Rights
Rights sold to

Arabic World - Al-Kamel Publishers (Lebanon) | Armenia - Antares Media Holding | Bangladesh - Ankur Prakashani | China - Beijing October | Cyprus - Vremena | Denmark - Tiderne Skifter | Egypt - Dar Merit | English (World) - Grove | Finland - Otava | France - Seuil | Georgia - Intelecti | Greece - Ekkremes | Hungary - AB Ovo | India (Hindi) - Vani Prakashan | India (Malayalam) - DC Books | Israel - Miskal | Italy - Einaudi | Japan - Choeisha | Korea - Munhakdongne | Macedonia - Magor Publishing House | Norway - Gyldendal Norsk | Poland - WAB | Portugal - ASA Editores | Russian Federation - Eksmo | Serbia - Paideia | Serbia - Lom Doo | Slovakia - Ikar | Spain - Random House Mondadori | Spain (Catalan) - Columna | Sweden - Modernista | Taiwan - Business Weekly | Thailand - Library House | Turkey - Notos Kitap | Ukrain - Folio | Vietnam - BachvietBooks

  • Publisher: Rowohlt Taschenbuch
  • Release: 17.04.2026
  • ISBN: 978-3-499-01911-1
  • 336 Pages
  • Author: Elfriede Jelinek

Awards

  • 2002: gewonnen - Heinrich-Heine-Preis

Our covers may only be used free of charge for press, event and promotional purposes in connection with the title or author. In particular, it is not permitted to use the covers in connection with other products, goods or services. The covers may only be reproduced faithfully in their original, unaltered form and must not be edited.

Buchcover von THE PIANO TEACHER
Elfriede Jelinek THE PIANO TEACHER
Portrait von Elfriede Jelinek
© Claudia Müller
Elfriede Jelinek

Elfriede Jelinek , who was born in 1946 and grew up in Vienna, now lives in Vienna and Munich. She has received numerous awards for her literary works, which include not only novels but also plays, poetry, essays, translations, radio plays, screenplays and opera librettos. Her awards include the Georg Büchner Prize and the Franz Kafka Prize for Literature. In 2004 she was awarded with Nobel Prize for Literature.