Aleš Šteger first collection of poems, Chessboards of Hours, was published in 1995 right after the fall of Yugoslavia. The collection sold out in three weeks heralding Šteger as one of Slovenia's most promising poets. Since then, his work has been translated into 16 languages. The Book of Things (BOA Editions 2011), translated by Brian Henry was the recipient of a Best Translated Book Award from the University of Rochester, and a Best Translated Book into English Award from the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages.