Kurt Tallert wins Uwe Johnson Prize for moving debut work!

Kurt Tallert wins Uwe Johnson Prize for moving debut work!

The Uwe Johnson Sponsorship Prize 2025 goes to the creative mind Kurt Tallert, who is already known as a DJ, rapper and producer and is now attracting attention as an author with his first novel “Spur und Abweg”. “Spur und Abweg” deals impressively with the relationship with his father, who was imprisoned as a half-Jew in 1944 and died in 1997, when Kurt was only 12 years old. In his story, Tallert fills in the blank spaces of the past and addresses how his father's experiences shaped his own life, reports daily news.

The jury of the sponsorship award justified the award with Tallert's special narrative style, which vividly traces the traumatic events of his family history. His father Harry Tallert, born in 1927, was not only a survivor of Nazi discrimination, but also led an eventful life as an SPD member of the Bundestag in the 1960s, where he vehemently campaigned against the return of former Nazis to positions of responsibility. Kurt reconstructs his father's experiences using diary entries and letters, which creates a fascinating combination of personal conflict and historical analysis, he adds Northern Courier.

An explosive debut

Kurt Tallert, who was born in 1986 as the youngest of four children, describes in his book the tornness of his relationship to Jewish identity and his father's associated trauma. His debut is remarkable because it does not fit into the usual novel genres - a peculiarity for which the Uwe Johnson Prize, which has been awarded every two years since 2005 and is endowed with 5,000 euros, is now being awarded for the first time. The official award ceremony will take place as part of the Johnson Days on September 26th in Neubrandenburg, where Tallert will receive his award Uwe Johnson website communicates.

“Spur und Abweg” published by the renowned DuMont Buchverlag, consists of 240 pages and is a deep reflection on the effects of the past on the present. Particularly moving are the passages that contain a letter to his great-grandmother, who was murdered in Auschwitz. This personal examination of his family history runs through Tallert's entire artistic work and gives him a unique voice in the current literary scene.

Looking forward to the Johnson days in 2024

The Johnson Days 2024, which will take place from September 16th to November 14th, promise a varied program with readings and discussions in which numerous authors and award winners will have their say. The award is therefore placed in the context of a broader discussion about literature and society, and underlines the relevance of artistic discussions of the past and identity in today's world. So Tallert is not alone – literary life in Germany remains lively and challenging.