Peter Härtling
The writer Peter Härtling was born in Chemnitz in 1933. He spent his youth in Saxony, Moravia, Austria, and Württemberg. Until 1952, he attended grammar school in Nürtingen. Then he attended the Bernstein School under HAP Grieshaber, where he became acquainted with the painter Fritz Ruoff and the writer Johannes Poethen.
Having passed his university entrance examination (Abitur), Härtling started work as a journalist – initially for several local newspapers in Swabia. From 1955 to 1962 he was literary editor of the Deutsche Zeitung in Stuttgart and Cologne. He then worked as joint publisher of the Berlin periodical “Der Monat” until 1970.
At the publishers S. Fischer in Frankfurt Härtling was employed as both editor-in-chief and managing director. Since 1974, Härtling has lived as a freelance writer in Mörfelden-Walldorf in Hesse. The first works by Härtling appeared in print as long ago as 1953. Since then he has published numerous poems, essays, novels, and children's books. To date his works have been translated into more than 20 languages. Kiepenheuer & Witsch published his latest book, entitled “Leben lernen” (Learn to live), in autumn 2003.
A member of several academies, Härtling holds both an honorary doctorate and professorship awarded by the State of Baden-Württemberg. He has also been awarded the “Großes Bundesverdienstkreuz” (Great Federal Merit Cross) for his outstanding achievements. Härtling has won numerous literary prizes – most recently he received the Bücherpreis (Book Prize) for his life's work at the 2003 Leipzig Book Fair.
Having passed his university entrance examination (Abitur), Härtling started work as a journalist – initially for several local newspapers in Swabia. From 1955 to 1962 he was literary editor of the Deutsche Zeitung in Stuttgart and Cologne. He then worked as joint publisher of the Berlin periodical “Der Monat” until 1970.
At the publishers S. Fischer in Frankfurt Härtling was employed as both editor-in-chief and managing director. Since 1974, Härtling has lived as a freelance writer in Mörfelden-Walldorf in Hesse. The first works by Härtling appeared in print as long ago as 1953. Since then he has published numerous poems, essays, novels, and children's books. To date his works have been translated into more than 20 languages. Kiepenheuer & Witsch published his latest book, entitled “Leben lernen” (Learn to live), in autumn 2003.
A member of several academies, Härtling holds both an honorary doctorate and professorship awarded by the State of Baden-Württemberg. He has also been awarded the “Großes Bundesverdienstkreuz” (Great Federal Merit Cross) for his outstanding achievements. Härtling has won numerous literary prizes – most recently he received the Bücherpreis (Book Prize) for his life's work at the 2003 Leipzig Book Fair.
Merry Christmas