Prof Karen Leeder wins Schlegel-Tieck Prize

Huge congratulations to Professor Karen Leeder, who was awarded the Society of Authors' Schlegel-Tieck Prize for her translation of Durs Grünbein’s Porcelain: Poem on the Downfall of my City. 

The prize is awarded annually for translations from the original German into English. 

Alexander Starritt, one of the judges of the award, said:

'Reading it is like watching someone solve a 10-dimensional crossword, except that the result is powerful, amusing and moving. Every line stands comparison with the original. Her translation operates at a degree of complexity and accomplishment that is rare to see.' 

Karen herself, said: 

'I am truly honoured to have been awarded the Schlegel-Tieck Prize for my translation of Durs Grünbein’s book-length poem Porcelain: Poem on the Downfall of my City, that appeared with Seagull Books in 2020. Porcelain addresses one of the most controversial episodes of modern German history: the Allied firebombing of Dresden in 1945. It is, I think, an extraordinary piece of writing by one of Europe’s finest poets; and an extraordinary challenge for the translator, too. I hope this prize will bring new readers to the poet and to this remarkable poem.'

Hear Karen read from her translation in her recording for New College Reads To You.