Michael Lentz

Michael Lentz studied at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and University of Siegen. The recorded working language is German. The field of work recorded is creative and professional writing, poetry and lyricism. Places of work recorded in the authority are Berlin and Leipzig. Employment is recorded with Leipzig University. Works named in the authority record are Pazific Exile. Distinctions recorded are Walter-Hasenclever-Literaturpreis, Preis der Literaturhäuser and Ingeborg Bachmann Prize.

• Name — Michael Lentz • Born — 1964 • Birthplace — Düren • Genre — Poems, plays, radio plays, short stories, novels • Occupation — Author, musician, and performer • Notable Works — 2001 Ingeborg Bachmann Prize for Muttersterben

Lentz was born in Düren. His father Hubert Lentz (1927–2014) was city manager (Oberstadtdirektor) of Düren. Lentz completed his Abitur at the Stiftisches Gymnasium Düren in 1983 and studied German studies, history and philosophy in Aachen and Munich. He completed his PhD in 1999; the thesis was titled Lautpoesie, -musik nach 1945 (Sound Poetry, Music After 1945). Lentz was student of Josef Anton Riedl and saxophonist in Riedl's Ensemble. He was the winner of the 2001 Ingeborg Bachmann Prize for his book Muttersterben. In May 2006, he was appointed professor for literary writing at the German Literature Institute, University of Leipzig. The genres of his work are poems, plays, radio plays, short stories and novels. Lentz is friends with the musician Herbert Grönemeyer and published a book about him in 2024. In 2025, an English-language edition of Schattenfroh, translated by Max Lawton, was published. Lentz lives in Berlin and has a second home in Leipzig. He lived in Munich for several years.

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• 2001 Ingeborg Bachmann Prize for Muttersterben • 2005 Preis der Literaturhäuser • 2012 Walter-Hasenclever-Literaturpreis

• 2014 Deutsche Akademie für Sprache und Dichtung, Darmstadt