The Bremen Literature Prize 2018 goes to Thomas Lehr
Thomas Lehr receives the Bremen Literature Prize 2018, endowed with 25,000 euros, for his novel "Sleeping Sun" published by Hanser Verlag.
The jury explains its decision:
"The Bremen Literature Prize 2018 goes to Thomas Lehr for his novel "Sleeping Sun", which accompanies its characters with great narrative power and linguistic daring through the catastrophic landscapes of the twentieth century from the First World War through the fall of the Berlin Wall to near the present day, and illuminates the historical upheavals through their reflection in art, philosophy and natural sciences."
Thomas Lehr, born in Speyer in 1957, initially studied biochemistry before devoting himself entirely to writing. He has received numerous awards for his extensive body of work, most recently the Berlin Literature Prize (2011), the Marie-Luise Kaschnitz Prize (2012), and the Joseph Breitbach Prize (2015). His latest novel, "Schlafende Sonne" (2017), was shortlisted for the German Book Prize. Thomas Lehr lives in Berlin.
Laura Freudenthaler has been awarded the Bremen Literature Prize's 2018 Advancement Award for her debut novel, "Die Königin schweigt" (The Queen Is Silent), published by Droschl. The €6,000 Advancement Award has been funded by ÖVB – Öffentliche Versicherung Bremen (Public Insurance Bremen) since 2005.
The jury explains its decision:
"Laura Freudenthaler is awarded the Bremen Literature Prize's sponsorship prize for 'The Queen Is Silent.' A quiet, focused novel that allows an old woman, who resists remembering and telling her story, to look back on her life marked by loss. Freudenthaler paints a compelling portrait of a generation that led a seemingly unspectacular existence, but in which the great story of history is actually hidden."
Laura Freudenthaler, born in Salzburg in 1984, studied German literature, philosophy, and gender studies. Her collection of short stories, "Der Schädel von Madeleine. Paargeschichten" (The Skull of Madeleine: Stories of Couples), was published in 2014. "Die Königin schweigt" (The Queen Is Silent) is her debut novel. Laura Freudenthaler lives in Vienna.
The jury for the Bremen Literature Prize 2018 met with the following members:
Dr. Wiebke Porombka, Dr. Daniela Strigl, Barbara Lison, Michael Sieber, Dr. Stephan Zweifel, Richard Kämmerlings and Dr. Lothar Müller.
Award ceremony:
The prizes will be awarded on January 29, 2018, at Bremen City Hall. A moderated reading by the two prize winners will take place on the eve of the award ceremony.
The 42nd Bremen Literary Week takes place in conjunction with the award ceremony – this year with the theme “Origin & Identity – Life Balances in Literature, Art & Film”.
The Bremen Literature Prize is one of the oldest and most prestigious literary prizes in Germany. It was first awarded in 1954. In addition, a grant has been awarded since 1977, which has been funded by ÖVB – Öffentliche Versicherung Bremen (Bremen Public Insurance .
Further information about the Bremen Literature Prize: www.ras-stiftung.de
October 18, 2017