Wolfgang Hilbig

Wolfgang Hilbig was a German writer and poet known for literary works that often explored themes of surveillance, dislocation, and identity. Hilbig was born in Meuselwitz, East Germany, and his experiences under the German Democratic Republic’s regime influenced his writing.

Before becoming a full-time writer, Hilbig, who was self-taught, worked various jobs, including as a stoker, a construction worker, and a toolmaker. Hilbig’s literary career took off in the 1980s, and he quickly became known for his unique narrative style that blended elements of realism and surrealism.

Some of Hilbig’s works in translation include Territories of the Soul / On Intonation, translated by Matthew Spencer (Sublunary Editions, 2024); The Interim, translated by Isabel Fargo Cole (Two Lines Press, 2021); and I, translated by Isabel Fargo Cole (Seagull Books, 2015). Other notable works include Das Provisorium (approximately translated “The Provisory”; Fischer Taschenbuch, 2000), Alte Abdeckerei (approximately translated “Old Rendering Plant”; S. Fischer, 1991), Eine Übertragung (approximately translated “A Translation”; S. Fischer, 1989), Die Weiber (approximately translated “The Women”; S. Fischer, 1987), and Die Kunde von den Bäumen (approximately translated “News from the Trees”; S. Fischer, 1996). 

Hilbig won several prestigious awards, including the 2002 Georg Büchner Prize. His works, which were often censored in East Germany due to their implicit criticism of the regime, have gained international acclaim for their lyrical quality and philosophical depth.