Stefan Heym - a great son of the city in the spotlight

Presentation of the International Stefan Heym Prize 2013

The International Stefan Heym Prize of the City of Chemnitz, endowed with 40,000 euros, will be awarded to Christoph Hein at a ceremony on 10 April. The laudator for Christoph Hein will be the writer Ingo Schulze. "Christoph Hein's literary work is characterised by astute observation and social commitment. He connects his characters' everyday lives with world history and the big questions. He writes precisely like a chronicler, soberly and objectively, and at the same time narrates in a wonderful, often poetic tone. Christoph Hein is certainly never comfortable, but always a critical spirit in the best sense of the word. This makes him a prizewinner who embodies the values of the prize in a special way, especially on the 100th anniversary of Stefan Heym's birth," said Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig.

The International Stefan Heym Prize of the City of Chemnitz is awarded in memory of the son and honorary citizen of the city to contemporary and courageous personalities who, like Stefan Heym, have made outstanding and lasting achievements as writers or publicists. The prize is endowed with 40,000 euros and is awarded every three years. On the occasion of Stefan Heym's 100th birthday in 2013, the usual rhythm will be deviated from. A board of trustees, whose patron is Inge Heym, decides on the awarding of the prize. Previous winners are Amos Oz (2008) and Bora Cosic (2011).

To mark Stefan Heym's birthday, the forecourt in front of the Schocken will also be named after Stefan Heym. The future "State Museum of Archaeology Chemnitz. Discovering Cultures - Understanding History" will then have the address Stefan-Heym-Platz.

International Stefan Heym Conference 2013

In collaboration with the Chair of Modern German and Comparative Literature at Chemnitz University of Technology, the International Stefan Heym Society will once again be organising an academic conference in Chemnitz on 11 and 12 April. Its theme is "The Witness of the Century - Historiography and Historical Concepts in the Works of Stefan Heym." Renowned speakers and representatives of Heym research from Germany and abroad - for example from Berlin, Marburg, Freiburg, Giessen, Tübingen and Cambridge - have already confirmed their participation.

"The documentary techniques used by Stefan Heym and his perception as a "witness of the century" lend his novels a special sense of historical authenticity," explains Prof Dr Bernadette Malinowski, Chair of Modern German and Comparative Literature at Chemnitz University of Technology.

"The conference will examine the methods, models and perspectives of Stefan Heym's representations of history. The fundamental aim is to position Heym's historical thinking and his literary representations of the past: between historiography and historical consciousness, between autobiographical memory and the cultures of remembrance, between historiographical and utopian interpretative power."

Supporting programme of the International Stefan Heym Society

The International Stefan Heym Society has planned and prepared an extensive and varied supporting programme for all those interested in literature in Chemnitz in connection with the conference. The focus will be on April, the month of Stefan Heym's birth. Readings, theatre performances, an exhibition, literary city tours, a literary competition, film screenings and much more will put Stefan Heym in the spotlight. "The events are intended to commemorate a writer who is one of the most important personalities of the 20th century. Our aim is to offer both declared Heym fans something interesting and to inspire new readers," says Dr Ulrike Uhlig, Chairwoman of the International Stefan Heym Society. A special highlight of the programme is an excursion to Schwarzenberg, during which participants will follow in Heym's footsteps, which he laid down in his novel "Schwarzenberg". "The literature competition initiated by the Karl-Schmidt-Rottluff-Gymnasium is also particularly close to our hearts, because we have a very young readership there."

The flyer with the complete programme will be published in February. More information at www.stefan-heym-gesellschaft.de and www.chemnitz.de