Spycher: Leuk Literature Prize
Awarded annually by the Schloss Leuk Foundation, the Spycher: Leuk Literature Prize is unique. Every year for three years, the prizewinners are invited for an eight week stay in Leuk, which Felicitas Hoppe described as “the best place in the world” in her story of the same name. At its feet extends a landscape with the Pfyn-Finges Nature Park, a meeting point of two cultures and languages, that is crossed by the wild Rhone River and opens onto wide horizons. The southern climate brings sweetness to grapes and figs. Between Rilke’s home in his last years and the hill on which he is buried, Leuk inspires, attracts, and wins over those who visit. If the prize’s value need be named in monetary terms, then: 30,000 francs.
Since 2001 renowned authors have left literary trace here:
JOANNA BATOR LUKAS BÄRFUSS MARCEL BEYER JOHN BURNSIDE MIRCEA CĂRTĂRESCU GERHARD FALKNER LAVINIA GREENLAW DURS GRÜNBEIN THOMAS HETTCHE MICHAEL HOFMANN |
BARBARA HONIGMANN FELICITAS HOPPE BARBARA KÖHLER LÁSZLÓ KRASZNAHORKAI SIBYLLE LEWITSCHAROFF MARTIN MOSEBACH MARIE NDIAYE ULRICH PELTZER MICHAEL ROES DANIEL DE ROULET |
MICHAEL ROES GILLES ROZIER JUDITH SCHALANSKY MIKHAIL SCHISCHKIN KATHARINA SCHULTENS ALISSA WALSER ADAM ZAGAJEWSKI |
Permanent traces of the authors’ stays appear through Dörlemann Press’ Spycher imprint, like Felicitas Hoppe’s story THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD and Barbara Köhler’s 36 VIEWS OF MOUNT GORWETSCH.
The Leukerbad Literary Festival and the Spycher: Leuk Literature Prize are at the heart of Palais Valais, a network of literary initiatives in Valais. As representatives of this cooperation, prizewinners take part the Leukerbad Literary Festival. Lukas Bärfuss and Barbara Köhler will appear this year.
The 2016 Spycher: Leuk Literature Prize will be awarded for the 15th time on Sunday, October 9, at 11:00 am in Schloss Leuk.
www.spycher-literaturpreis.ch
www.doerlemann.com