Literature in Hesse

Famous names established the fame of Hesse as a country of literature: in the past Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, Heinrich Hoffmann, Martin and Paula Buber – or nowadays Christine Brueckner, Eva Demski, Wilhelm Genazino, Robert Gernhardt, Peter Haertling, Marie-Luise Kaschnitz, Gabriele Wohmann, and last but not least, the Buechner-award-winner Martin Mosebach. Among other writers, who lived in Hesse for a long time, are Hoelderlin, Pasternak, Matthias Claudius, Rilke, Hoffmann von Fallersleben, Ferdinand Freiligrath, Adolf von Knigge…

Cities in Hesse storied literature, as Frankfurt, Darmstadt, Kassel, Wetzlar, Assmannshausen. Thomas Mann´s »Felix Krull« is at home in Eltville, Dostojewski and his »Gambler« were abandoned to the Roulette in Wiesbaden.

Cosmopolitanism as a cultural medium

Frankfurt as a free imperial city invented the cultural medium for the world´s biggest book faier, imbedded into an ambitious and prosporous publishing-, and bookseller´s scenery. Compared to the other German countries Hesse shows the most dense concentration.
The »Boersenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels« (Frankfurt Bourse Society) as organizer of the Frankfurt International Book Fair is awarding the annual »Friedenspreis des Deutschen Buchhandels« (Peace prize), one of the most important cultural awards in Germany. This society offers itself as an organ of the branch, and consultant for the public and politics. The association is engaging in reading, and in books as cultural treasures, freedom of opinion and cultural diversity of the community.

International Acitivities

Literature in Hesse is also formed by institutions, operating in Germany and international, not coincidentally based on this country. One of those important institutions is the »Deutsche Akademie fuer Sprache und Dichtung« (German Academy for Languages and Poetry), commiting itself in taking care of German literature and language. It organizes congresses, is publishing and responsible for the awarding of the Georg-Buechner-, Sigmund-Freud-, Johann-Heinrich-Merck-, Johann-Heinrich-Voss-, and of the Friedrich-Gundolf-prizes.

The German P.E.N.-Centre in Darmstadt is protecting the literature against racial-, and class hatred, the right of the free word, and the unobstructed interchange of ideas worldwide.
Among the relevant projects the »Writers in Prisons-Committee«, and »Writers in Exile« programs as well as the Hermann-Kesten-Award are the most ambitious ones.

The aim of the »Gesellschaft für Deutsche Sprache« (Society for German Language - »GfdS«) in Wiesbaden , established in 1947, is to increase the awareness of the German language. The target is to watch the language development sensoriously, and to publish recommendations , based on scientific research for the common language use. The GfdS is editing both the periodicals »Der Sprachdienst« und »Die Muttersprache« (Native language), is publishing book specials, and offering a wide selection of cultural events. The »Medienpreis fuer Spachkultur« and the »Alexander-Rhomberg-Preis« (Media-prizes) are awarded by the GfdS.

The major task of the »Brueder Grimm-Gesellschaft e.V.« (Brueder Grimm Society) is the care of the personal and scientific heritage of the fairy tail-collectors and linguists Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, as well as Ludwig Emil Grimm, the painting brother. The collection and documentation of life and work, the allocation of primary and secondary literatur regarding these issues, the sponsorship of the 1959 founded »Brueder-Grimm-Museum« in Kassel, and further memorial sites – and, last, but not least, the coordination of the Brueder-Grimm research world wide, are the aims of the society.

The »Freie Deutsche Hochstift« is one of the oldest cultural, and non-profit research organizations in Germany. The house of Goethe´s parents is one of the ideal and vivid centres of the »Hochstift«, the responsible body of the Frankfurt Goethe Museum, and owner of a poetry-archive, a graphical collection, and a research library.

The Art of Books

The »Stiftung Buchkunst« (Foundation Art of Books) in Frankfurt is organizing the annual competition »Die schönsten deutschen Bücher« (The most beautiful German books). Independent experts judge the composition, general view, printing and cover as well as conception and layout of the books. In addition to this competition the foundation organizes an international competition.

Since 2003 the active network »Hessicher Literaturrat« (Hesse Board of Literature) endeavours itself to bundle literary acitivities and interests, and to improve the communication and mutual perception . The »Verband deutscher Schriftsteller in Hessen« (Association of writers in Hesse) is the lobby of Hesse authors , and associated to the union »ver.di«. It arranges public readings, conventions, and seminars. The internet provides under »Autorenhandbuch und Autorenverzeichnis« informations about the authors, operating in Hesse, about their works, and lives.

Sponsorship

Noumerous literature-houses, literature panels, clubs and centres are challenged to impart literature knowledge, and support writers and authors in the cities and regions. One of these is the »Hessisches Literaturforum« (Hesse Literature Forum), based in Frankfurt. Upon the recommendations of the »Hessischer Rundfunk« (Frankfurt Radio), the Hesse Board of Literature and the Hesse Ministry of Science and Arts has established in Mai 2007 the first »Day of Literature« with about 200 events in more than 85 cities. It is part of the »Literaturland Hessen« (Hesse Country of Literature), which is going to popularize the literary tradition and the places, and where the literary heritage is cultivated, in order to communicate these places as excursion-, and holiday destinations. Those three institutions (Hessischer Rundfunk, Hessischer Literaturrat and Ministry of Science and Arts) were the founders of the common project of »Literaturland Hessen« in 2004.

Well known scholarships and awards

Many literary prizes and scholarships are awarded by the Hesse State (some of them already mentioned above). Additional possibilities of support can be found in the »Kulturportal Hessen« under »Infothek«. At this point the »Junges Literaturforum« (Young Forum of Literature) has to be named, which is since 1984 awarding the competition for authors between the age of 16 and 25 years. This competition has been extended to Thuringia in 1991, and is therefore today one of the most important and succesful West- East-German cultural projects. The applications received in the recent years have been between 600 to 800 regularly. Three poems, or a short story at a maximum of three pages can be posted.

Anything else but boring

Literature can be experienced in an unusual manner, which is demonstrated by numerous actions as »Poetry Slam«. The literature in Hesse has a long tradition, and will have a spirited future. To discover both there is no need to search for too long:
the literature in Hesse is omnipresent!