Many Cultures - One Language

Michael Stavarič is awarded the 2012 Adelbert von Chamisso Prize, valued at 15,000 euros. According to the jury, all of Michael Stavarič’s works to date, and particularly his latest novel “Brenntage”, have enriched contemporary German prose in a linguistically original way. And this year’s Promotional Prizes, valued at 7,000 euros each, go to Akos Doma for his novel “Die allgemeine Tauglichkeit”, and Ilir Ferra for his German-language debut “Rauchschatten”. The awards will be presented to the winners on March 1, 2012, at the Court Church of All Saints inside the Munich Residenz in Munich, Germany.

You can watch videos with short readings of the prize winners in our media center.

Artur Becker in an interview with Tim Schleider, Stuttgarter Zeitung. Robert Bosch Stiftung, July 2009.

This literature prize has been awarded annually in Munich since 1985. The prize is open to authors whose mother tongue and cultural background are non-German and whose works make an important contribution to German literature.

The prize is awarded only for published works. External applications are not considered. The winners are selected by an independent jury. In addition to the main prize, the foundation may also award up to two sponsorship prizes each year. The sponsorship prize is also open to unpublished and self-published texts. In 1997, the foundation also began awarding the "Ehrengabe zum Chamisso-Preis," an honorary award for personalities whose life work promotes the objectives of the Chamisso Prize in a special way. This prize is awarded at irregular intervals. In addition to the prizes, the foundation also provides funding for readings and scholarships.