Awards: Rheingau Literature Prize: 111 bottles of wine for Rietzschel

Lukas Rietzschel has been awarded the 2026 Rheingau Literature Prize for his novel "Sanditz." The prize, which includes 111 bottles of wine and 11,111 euros, will be presented at the Rheingau Literature Festival on September 27 at Schloss Johannisberg.

“

In these times, the societal upheavals in the GDR, which led to reunification, but also the disappointments experienced by the hopeful residents of the fictional town of Sanditz afterward and the resulting skepticism towards the achievements of the new era.

"Sanditz" is set in the fictional Lusatian town of Sanditz and traces the Wenzel family's history from the 1970s through the COVID-19 pandemic and the start of the Ukraine war. The novel covers the societal upheavals of the GDR, reunification, and the subsequent disillusionment and skepticism experienced by the town's residents.

The jury commended Rietzschel for providing an exemplary study of a community's fragmentation, with the atmosphere of the novel intensifying around Sanditz. They noted that the work "continues the tradition of Wende novels while also expanding it with the transformation that began after 1990." The jury described Rietzschel's work as a "perceptual portrait of Germany: reaching east and far beyond German borders – and all clichés."

“

Rietzschel succeeds in creating a perceptual portrait of Germany: reaching east and far beyond German borders – and all clichés.

Hesse's Minister of Culture, Timon Gremmels, called Rietzschel "a powerful and important literary voice of the East." He highlighted how "Sanditz" weaves Lusatian legends with contemporary family stories, showing with pointedness, warmth, and impressive linguistic skill how experiences from a defunct state continue to shape generations without resorting to clichés.

“

a powerful and important literary voice of the East.

Rietzschel, born in Saxony in 1994, studied political science, German studies, and cultural management. His first novel, "Mit der Faust in die Welt schlagen" (2018), which depicted the family history of "Wende losers" and right-wing radicals, garnered attention and was adapted into a film. The Rheingau Literature Prize has been awarded since 1994, with past recipients including Peter Stamm, Bodo Kirchhoff, and Saša Stanišić.

“

In 'Sanditz' he weaves Lusatian legends with contemporary family stories. In doing so, he shows pointedly, warmly, and with an impressive feel for language, how experiences from a defunct state shape generations to this day, without drifting into cliché.