Award for Excellence in Literature: Wilhelm Raabe Prize

Wilhelm Raabe-Literature Prize: Honouring Contemporary German-Language Literature

The Wilhelm Raabe-Literature Prize, one of the most highly endowed awards in Germany, is an annual recognition for narrative works written in German. Established in 1944, the prize aims to honour Wilhelm Raabe's life's work and outstanding intellectual achievement, while supporting current German-language contemporary literature.

The prize money, initially over 25,000€, was increased to 30,000€ in 2014. The awarding ceremony takes place in November, donated by the City of Braunschweig and Deutschlandradio/Deutschlandfunk.

For inquiries regarding the prize, contact Andreas Böttcher, who can be reached via phone (0531 7075834), fax (0531 70189316), or email ([email protected]). His address is Leonhardstraße 29a, 38102 Braunschweig.

The selection process involves a 9-member specialist jury appointed by the city of Braunschweig and Deutschlandradio/Deutschlandfunk. Self-application for the prize is not possible. A nine-member jury decides on the awarded novel each year.

The Wilhelm Raabe Prize, originally named so, was given irregularly until 2000. Since then, the prize has been awarded every two years until 2009, when it changed to an annual awarding. Despite extensive search results, a specific list of recipients from 2009 onwards is not readily available.

The Wilhelm Raabe-Literature Prize is open to narrative works written in German and must have been published in the year of the award. The prize is for contemporary German-language literature, making it a significant event in the literary calendar.

For more information, visit the homepage for the Wilhelm Raabe Literature Prize through this link (opens in a new tab).