Erfurt's City Writer Wins Bachmann Prize

Erfurt's current city writer, Lena Schätte, has won the prestigious Ingeborg Bachmann Prize at the 50th Days of German-Language Literature in Klagenfurt, Austria. Schätte, a 32-year-old author from North Rhine-Westphalia, triumphed over 13 competitors with her text titled "Was wir tragen" (What We Wear).

The jury announced Schätte's victory, with the author describing the win as a "fever dream." The award, sponsored by the city of Klagenfurt, comes with a 30,000 Euro prize. Her winning text was praised for its touching yet unsparing portrayal of the friendship between two overweight secondary school students navigating life as social outsiders.

In addition to the main prize, Schätte also secured the audience award, highlighting her broad appeal. She has been Erfurt's official city writer since April 1 and resides in the city's old town until the end of her stipend in July. During her time in Erfurt, she is developing a novel project scheduled for release in 2027.

Erfurt's Mayor Andreas Horn (CDU) celebrated Schätte's success, stating, "Lena Schätte has touched the German-speaking literary world with her text – and she did it from Erfurt." He emphasized that her triumph demonstrates the significant contemporary literary voice the city currently hosts. Last year, Schätte's novel "Das Schwarz an den Händen meines Vaters" (The Black on My Father's Hands) was longlisted for the German Book Prize. Before studying literary writing, she worked for several years as a psychiatric nurse.