Ilma Rakusa
Ilma Rakusa (born 2 January 1946) is a Swiss writer and translator. She translates French, Russian, Serbo-Croatian and Hungarian into German.
Ilma Rakusa
C.Stadler/Bwag · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Born
- 1946. · Rimavská Sobota.
- Nationality
- Switzerland.
- Occupation
- translator, writer, playwright, poet, slavist and librettist.
- Fields
- prose.
- Known for
- Mehr Meer: Erinnerungspassagen.
- Honours
- Berliner Literaturpreis, Swiss Book Prize, Adelbert von Chamisso Prize, Manès-Sperber-Preis and Hieronymusring.
- Languages
- German and Swiss Standard German.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Ilma Rakusa (born 2 January 1946) is a Swiss writer and translator. She translates French, Russian, Serbo-Croatian and Hungarian into German.
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Note VALÉORINE
Ilma Rakusa (born 1946) is a librettist, playwright and poet, among other activities, of Swiss nationality. The librettist was born in Rimavská Sobota.
Ilma Rakusa worked for University of Zurich and is a member of German Academy for Language and Literature. The librettist worked in Zurich.
Among the works is Mehr Meer: Erinnerungspassagen. The work spans prose. Languages used include German and Swiss Standard German. Honours include Adelbert von Chamisso Prize, Berliner Literaturpreis and Hieronymusring, among others.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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Authority files
wikidata · Q124694 · wikipedia · Ilma Rakusa
In this article
Biography
Biography
The recorded working language is German and Swiss Standard German. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are prose. Places of work recorded in the authority are Zurich. Employment is recorded with University of Zurich. Works named in the authority record are Mehr Meer: Erinnerungspassagen. Distinctions recorded are Berliner Literaturpreis, Swiss Book Prize, Adelbert von Chamisso Prize and Manès-Sperber-Preis.
Ilma Rakusa was born in 1946 in Rimavská Sobota, Slovakia to a Slovenian father and a Hungarian mother. She spent her early childhood in Budapest, Ljubljana and Trieste. In 1951, her family moved to Zürich, Switzerland. Ilma Rakusa attended the Volksschule and the Gymnasium in Zürich. After the Matura, she studied Slavic and Romance Languages and Literature in Zürich, Paris and Leningrad between 1965 and 1971. In 1971, she was awarded a doctorate for her thesis titled Studien zum Motiv der Einsamkeit in der russischen Literatur, about themes of loneliness in Russian literature. From 1971 to 1977, she was a Wissenschaftlicher Assistent at the Slavic Seminar at the University of Zurich (UZH). From 1977 to 2006, she worked at UZH as a Lehrbeauftragter. In 1977, Rakusa authored her first book, a collection of poems titled Wie Winter. She has since published numerous collections of poetry, short stories and essays. Rakusa works as a translator from French, Russian, Serbo-Croatian and Hungarian into German. She has translated works by authors including the French novelist Marguerite Duras, the Russian writer Aleksey Remizov, the Hungarian author Imre Kertész, the Russian poet Marina Tsvetaeva and the Serbo-Croatian Danilo Kiš. Rakusa also works as a journalist (Neue Zürcher Zeitung and Die Zeit). Rakusa's novel Mehr Meer (2009) has been translated into many languages and received the Swiss Book Prize in 2009. Rakusa has been a member of the Deutsche Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung since 1996 and the jury of the Zuger Übersetzer-Stipendium. In 2010/2011, she was a fellow at the Berlin Institute for Advanced Study. Today, Ilma Rakusa lives as a freelance writer in Zürich.
As editor
As editor
Rakusa, Ilma; Ingold, Felix Philipp, eds. (1972). Gedichte an Gott sind Gebete. Zürich: Arche Verlag. Solzhenitsyn, Aleksandr (1973). Rakusa, Ilma; Ingold, Felix Philipp (eds.). Kirche und Politik. Bericht, Dokument, Erzahlung. Zürich: Arche Verlag. Einsamkeiten. Ein Lesebuch. Zürich: Arche Verlag. 1975. Rakusa, Ilma; Schmid, Hugo, eds. (1979). Russische Kinder. Zürich: Arche Verlag. Dostojewskij in der Schweiz. Ein Reader. Frankfurt: Insel Verlag. 1981. Marguerite Duras. Materialienband. Frankfurt: Suhrkamp Verlag. 1988. Akhmatova, Anna (1988). Gedichte. Frankfurt: Suhrkamp Verlag. Kiš, Danilo (1994). Homo poeticus. Gespräche und Essays. Munich: Carl Hanser Verlag. Brodsky, Joseph (1997). Haltestelle in der Wüste. Gedichte. Frankfurt: Suhrkamp Verlag. Tsvetaeva, Marina (2002). Versuch, eifersüchtig zu sein. Gedichte. Frankfurt: Suhrkamp Verlag. Rakusa, Ilma; Keller, Ursula, eds. (2003). Europa schreibt. Was ist das Europäische an den Literaturen Europas? Essays aus 33 europäischen Ländern. Hamburg: Körber-Stiftung. Rakusa, Ilma; Bennis, Mohammed, eds. (2007). Die Minze erblüht in der Minze. Arabische Dichtung der Gegenwart. Munich: Carl Hanser Verlag. Kiš, Danilo (2014). Familienzirkus. Die großen Romane und Erzählungen. Munich: Carl Hanser Verlag.
Translations into German
Translations into German
Tsvetaeva, Marina (1973). Prosa. Translated by Rakusa, Ilma; Ingold, Felix Philipp. Zürich: Benziger. Duras, Marguerite (1984). Sommer 1980. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag. ISBN 3-518-11205-8. Remizov, Aleksey (1981). Der goldene Kaftan und andere russische Märchen. Zürich: Manesse Verlag. ISBN 3-7175-1600-0. Duras, Marguerite (1985). Der Liebhaber. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag. ISBN 3-518-03243-7. Kiš, Danilo (1986). Ein Grabmal für Boris Dawidowitsch. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag. ISBN 3-518-01928-7. Tsvetaeva, Marina (1987). Mutter und die Musik. Autobiographische Prosa. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag. ISBN 3-518-01941-4. Duras, Marguerite (1988). Das tägliche Leben. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag. ISBN 3-518-11508-1. Kiš, Danilo (1988). Sanduhr. Munich: Carl Hanser Verlag. ISBN 3-446-14276-2. Prishvin, Mikhail (1988). Meistererzählungen. Zürich: Manesse Verlag. ISBN 3-7175-1752-X. Duras, Marguerite (1990). Im Sommer abends um halb elf. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag. ISBN 3-518-40230-7. Tsvetaeva, Marina (1990). Phoenix. Versdrama in drei Bildern. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag. ISBN 3-518-22057-8. Kaplan, Leslie (1991). Das Buch der Himmel. Gedichte. Zürich: Ferdydurke Verlag. ISBN 3-905604-02-7. Tsvetaeva, Marina (1992). Im Feuer geschrieben. Ein Leben in Briefen. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag. ISBN 3-518-40493-8. Kiš, Danilo (1996). Der Heimatlose. Munich: Carl Hanser Verlag. ISBN 3-446-18758-8. Remizov, Aleksey (1996). Die Geräusche der Stadt. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag. ISBN 3-518-22204-X. Kertész, Imre (1998). Ich, ein anderer. Berlin: Rowohlt Verlag. ISBN 3-87134-334-X. Nádas, Péter (1999). Ohne Pause. Reinbek: Rowohlt Verlag. ISBN 3-499-22578-6. Tsvetaeva, Marina (1999). Ein Abend nicht von dieser Welt. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag. ISBN 3-518-22317-8. Chekhov, Anton (2000). Die Möwe. Burgtheater Wien. Kiš, Danilo (2007). Die mechanischen Löwen. Translated by Rakusa, Ilma; Urban, Peter. Munich: Carl Hanser Verlag. ISBN 978-3-446-20832-2.
de:Ilma Rakusa at the Erlanger Poetenfest 2009
Don Manfredo

The Swiss literary critic ans writer Ilma Rakusa at a panel discussion at Fokus Lyrik 2019 in Frankfurt
Kritzolina
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1946
Ilma Rakusa was born on 2 January 1946.
Primary material
Documents and archives
Institutional database
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q124694: Ilma Rakusa
Scholarly · Wikimedia Foundation
reference work
- “Ilma Rakusa”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
Awards and honors
1987: Hieronymusring of the Verband deutschsprachiger Übersetzer 1991: Petrarca translation award 1995: Swiss Writer-in-residence Max Kade Institute at the University of Southern California 1998: Leipzig Book Award for European Understanding (Commendation Award) 1998: Schillerpreis der Zürcher Kantonalbank 2003: Pro Cultura Hungarica 2003: Adelbert von Chamisso Prize 2004: Johann-Jakob-Bodmer-Medaille der Stadt Zürich 2005: Vilenica International Literary Prize 2005 Chamisso-Poetikdozentur by the Mitteleuropazentrum of the Technical University of Dresden and the Sächsische Akademie der Künste 2009: Swiss Book Prize for Mehr Meer. Erinnerungspassagen. 2010/2011: Fellow at the Berlin Institute for Advanced Study 2015: Manès-Sperber-Preis 2017: Berliner Literaturpreis 2019: Kleist Prize 2023: Cultural award from the city of Zurich 2025: Golden Medal of Honor of the canton of Zurich 2025: Johann-Heinrich-Merck-Preis
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Ilma Rakusa. www.geisteswissenschaften.fu-berlin.de. 18 October 2016.
- 2.Rakusa, Ilma: Archiv Ilma Rakusa. ead.nb.admin.ch.
- 3.Ilma Rakusa. www.ilmarakusa.info.
- 4.Breidecker, Volker. Die Fahrende. Ilma Rakusa, die große Europäerin der Literatur, wird 70. Süddeutsche Zeitung. 300. 14. 30 December 2015.
- 5.Zuger Übersetzer-Stipendium / Zuger Übersetzer-Gespräche Beitrag Detail. www.zugeruebersetzer.ch.
- 6.Schmitz, Michaela. Ode an die vierzehn Einsamkeiten. Deutschlandfunk. 9 June 2014.
- 7.City of Leipzig. Leipzig Book Award for European Understanding.
- 8.Ilma Rakusa erhält Manès-Sperber-Preis. Der Standard. 12 November 2015.
- 9.Kleist-Preis für Schweizer Schriftstellerin Ilma Rakusa. Die Welt. 9 May 2019.
- 10.Kulturelle Auszeichnungen der Stadt Zürich 2023. www.stadt-zuerich.ch.
- 11.Böhler, Wolfgang. Jojo Mayer erhält den Zürcher Kulturpreis. Schweizer Musikzeitung. 2025-02-26.
- 12.WDR. Dan Diner und Ilma Rakusa erhalten Literaturpreise. 18 July 2025.
- 13.Zuglärm und Orgelklang. Rheinischer Merkur. 49. 2. 3 December 2009.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 27
- Herbert Lang Verlag. Studien zum Motiv der Einsamkeit in der russischen Literatur. 1973.
- Edition Howeg. Wie Winter. Gedichte. 1977.
- Edition Howeg. Sinai. 1980.
- Suhrkamp Verlag. Die Insel. Erzählung. 1982.
- Suhrkamp Verlag. Miramar. Erzählungen. 1986.
- Edition Howeg. Leben. 15 Akronyme. 1990.
- Suhrkamp Verlag. Steppe. Erzählungen. 1990.
- Rakusa, Ilma. Les mots / morts. Gedichte. Edition Howeg. 1992.
- Suhrkamp Verlag. Jim. Sieben Dramolette. 1993.
- Literaturverlag Droschl. Farbband und Randfigur. Vorlesungen zur Poetik. 1994.
- Suhrkamp Verlag. Ein Strich durch alles. 90 Neunzeiler. 1997.
- Suhrkamp Verlag. Love after love. Acht Abgesänge. 2001. 3-518-12251-7.
- Suhrkamp Verlag. Von Ketzern und Klassikern. Streifzüge durch die russische Literatur. 2003. 3-518-12325-4.
- Literaturverlag Droschl. Langsamer! Gegen Atemlosigkeit, Akzeleration und andere Zumutungen. 2006. 3-85420-692-5.
- Tartin Editionen. Stille. Zeit. Essays. 2005.
- Suhrkamp Verlag. Durch Schnee. Erzählungen und Prosaminiaturen. 2006. 3-518-45794-2.
- Thelem Universitätsverlag. Zur Sprache gehen. Dresdner Chamisso-Poetikvorlesungen 2005. 2006. 3-937672-49-4.
- Edition Thanhäuser. Garten, Züge. Eine Erzählung und 10 Gedichte. 2006.
- Literaturverlag Droschl. Zuglärm und Orgelklang. Rheinischer Merkur. 49. 2. 3 December 2009. 978-3-85420-760-3.
- Literaturverlag Droschl. Aufgerissene Blicke. Berlin-Journal. 2013. 978-3-85420-836-5.
- Literaturverlag Droschl. Einsamkeit mit rollendem "r". Erzählungen. 2014. 978-3-85420-953-9.
- Sonderzahl Verlag. Autobiographisches Schreiben als Bildungsroman. Stefan Zweig Poetikvorlesung. 2014. 978-3-85449-408-9.
- Literaturverlag Droschl. Impressum: Langsames Licht. Gedichte. 2016. 978-3-85420-949-2.
- Lyrik Kabinett. Listen, Litaneien, Loops. Zwischen poetischer Anrufung und Inventur. Münchner Reden zur Poesie. 2016. 978-3-938776-42-1.
- Literaturverlag Droschl. Mein Alphabet. 2019. 978-3-990590-32-4.
- Literaturverlag Droschl. Kein Tag ohne. Gedichte. 2022. 978-3-99059-117-8.
- Literaturverlag Droschl. Wo bleibt das Licht. Tagebuchprosa. 2025. 978-3-99059-192-5.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
Institutional database
Wikidata, structured authority record Q124694: Ilma RakusaWikimedia Foundation
Verifiedreference work
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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