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Volker Braun | |
|---|---|
 Volker Braun (left), alongsideRuth Berghaus (center) andWieland Förster in Berlin 1981. The image was taken by the Signum photographer Peter Heinz Junge and is deposited in theGerman Federal Archives | |
| Born | (1939-05-07)May 7, 1939 (age 86) |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | German |
| Alma mater | Leipzig University |
| Literary movement | Marxism |
| Notable works | The Property |
| Notable awards | |
| Political party | SED |
 Literature portal | |
Volker Braun (born 7 May 1939 inDresden) is a German writer. His works includeProvokation für mich (Provocation for me) – a collection of poems written between 1959 and 1964 and published in 1965, a play,Die Kipper (The Dumpers) (1972; written 1962–1965), andDas ungezwungene Leben Kasts (The Unrestrained Life of Kast) (1972).
After completing hisAbitur, Volker Braun worked for a time in construction before going on to study philosophy atLeipzig. There he occupied himself with the contradictions and hopes of a socialist state. He joined theSED in 1960. Nevertheless, he was regarded as critical of the GDR state, and often succeeded in getting his prose and poetry published only through the application of tactical skill.
His work included poetry, plays, novels and short stories.
At first his writings reflected a critical enthusiasm for the building of socialism. From 1965 to 1967, Braun worked as artistic director at theBerliner Ensemble at the invitation ofHelene Weigel. After the events of thePrague Spring, he became increasingly critical of life and the possibility for reform underSocialism. After that, he came under more intense scrutiny of theStasi. In 1972 Braun began work at theDeutsches Theater Berlin (German Theatre Berlin). In 1976 he was among those who signed the petition protesting the expatriation of Wolf Biermann.[1] From 1979 he was active again in the Berliner Ensemble. He received theLessing Prize of East Germany in 1981. and theNational Prize of East Germany in 1988.
In 1982 Braun left the Writers’ Union of the GDR. At that time his works described an increasingly depressing life in the GDR. The actors in his plays moved about with resignation in immovable settings. HisHinze-Kunze-Roman, based on Diderot'sJacques le fataliste et son maître, received approval for publication in 1985. When it appeared it was reviewed as “absurd” and “anarchistic” by the influential critic Annalise Loeffler.[2] Klaus Hoepke, then deputy minister for culture, was disciplined for having granted permission for its publication.[3]
In 1988, Braun received the National Prize of the GDR. During thePeaceful Revolution of 1989, he was a supporter of an independent "third way" for the GDR. He was among the first signatories of the appealFür unser Land.[4] After reunification, he became critically engaged in analysing the reasons for the collapse of the GDR. In this connection, he undertook work with the West German Marxist journal,Das Argument, edited byWolfgang Fritz Haug.
In 1986, Braun was awarded theBremer Literature Prize. In 1992 he received theSchiller Memorial Prize. He was awarded a stipend at theVilla Massimo and was a guest of theUniversity of Wales in 1994. In 1996, he received theDeutschen Kritikerpreis (German Critic Prize), became a member of theDeutsche Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung, theSächsische Akademie der Künste (Saxon Academy of the Arts) and held the post of Poet-lecturer at theUniversity of Heidelberg. He received theErwin Strittmatter Prize in 1998 and theGeorg Büchner Prize in 2000. From 1999 to 2000, he was theBrothers Grimm-professor at theUniversity of Kassel. He would be elected Director of the Literature Section of theAcademy of Arts, Berlin in 2006. In 2008, he received the 2007ver.di-Literature Prize 2007 for his story, "Das Mittagsmahl" (Lunch).
Volker Braun lives in Berlin.
