The new writer-in-residence of Bergen-Enkheim is Ulrich Peltzer.
The jury’s statement on the nomination of the 36th writer-in-residence of Bergen-Enkheim contains the following comments: “Ulrich Peltzer was born on Krefeld in 1956. He has been living in Berlin since 1975, where he studied philosophy and psychology. In 1987, with his debut “Die Sünden der Faulheit” (The Sins of Sloth) he started a series of Berlin novels: “Stefan Martinez”, “Alle oder keiner” (All or None); in 2007 the most recent instalment came out entitled “Teil der Lösung” (Part of the Solution). Ulrich Peltzer’s panoramas of urban life compose epic reports on his generation’s state of mind during the past decades. These are acute observations on the individual’s struggle between political ideals and disillusioned conformism, the search for freedom in a world completely under surveillance. In his most recent novel “Teil der Lösung” (Part of the Solution) Peltzer’s precarious characters of the Berlin Republic get into the focus of police surveillance cameras. He allows us to see through the opacity of our world by using the literary devices of cinematic montage and cut. Ulrich Peltzer’s narration is uniquely successful in continuing the tradition of the political novel by means of sophisticated techniques of representation.”
As the 36th “incumbent” he will be able to live and work in the Stadtschreiberhaus (writer-in-residence house) in Bergen for one year from 28 August. 36 years ago, in Bergen-Enkheim, the title “Stadtschreiber” (writer-in-residence) was coined that has come to set a precedent and been taken up by numerous other cities in Germany. The writer-in-residence jury is made up of jurors from the field of literature and members of the public. The jurors from the literary world are: Peter Bichsel, Peter Härtling, Wolfram Schütte and the current Stadtschreiber (writer-in-residence) Friedrich Christian Delius.
Ulrich Peltzer is to succeed Friedrich Christian Delius. The literature prize will be awarded on 28 August in the festival tent on Bergen market square. The prize money is € 20.000. The speech will be given by Dr. Heribert Prantl. Organisers are Kulturgesellschaft Bergen-Enkheim mbH (Bergen-Enkheim cultural association) and Ortsbeirat Bergen-Enkheim (Bergen-Enkheim local council).