Irina Liebmann

2001 Max Kade Writer-in-residence

Irina Liebmann was born in 1943 in Moscow, the daughter of a German emigrant. Her parents returned to Berlin in 1945, and Liebman spent her childhood there and in Halle (GDR). She studied Sinology in Leipzig from 1961-65 and completed her studies with a graduate degree. From 1966 until 1975, Liebmann edited an academic journal on international politics. She has been a freelance writer since 1975, publishing a number of articles, radio plays, dramas, novels and children's books. Her work has been honored with a number of prizes and distinctions, several of which are listed below. Prior to her coming to Oberlin, Irina Liebmann held writing residencies at the Villa Aurora Pacific Palisades (1995) and the Villa Waldberta in Munich (1994).

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Books by Irina Liebmann:

-Letzten Sommer in Deutschland, eine romantische Reise (Kiepenheuer & Witsch, 1997)
-In Berlin (Kiepenheuer & Witsch, 1994; Fischer Taschenbuch, 1996)
-Quatschfresser Theaterstücke (Frankfurter Verlagsanstalt, 1990)
-Mitten im Krieg (Frankfurter Verlagsanstalt, 1989; Fischer Taschenbuch, 1993)
-Berliner Mietshaus (Mitteldeutscher Verlag, 1982; Frankfurter Verlagsanstalt, 1994; Fischer Taschenbuch, Vorabdruck in der FAZ, 1994)

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Irina Liebmann has been awarded the following prizes:

-Berliner Literaturpreis, 1998
-Ehrengabe der Deutschen Schillergesellschaft, 1996
-Stipendium des Deutschen Literaturfonds, 1990
-Förderpreis zum Bremer Literaturpreis, 1990
-Aspekte-Literaturpreis, 1989
-Ernst-Willner-Preis, 1987
-Hörspielpreis der DDR, 1980