Andrukhovych: Heym Prize "Solidarity signal for Ukraine"

Sharp voice against authoritarian systems

The Board of Trustees praised Andrukhovych as one of the most important literary and intellectual voices in Ukraine. His work combines socio-political acuity with subtle humor, which is also directed against authoritarian systems. The laudatory speech was held by Katharina Raabe, Suhrkamp Verlag's editor for Eastern European literatures.

Born in 1960, the author first became known for his experimental satirical poetry and later turned increasingly to prose and essays. He has already received numerous awards, including the Leipzig Book Prize for European Understanding and the Heinrich Heine Prize of the City of Düsseldorf. "In the title of the current prize, I like the point about interfering best - in social and political debates, of course. And I like to get involved," Andrukhovych is quoted as saying in a statement from the city.

"I believe that you had an excellent teacher of meddling and cheerfulness, his name was Stefan Heym," Andrukhovych said in his acceptance speech. Heym was born Helmut Flieg in Chemnitz in 1913, grew up in a German-Jewish family and later fled from the National Socialists to the USA.