Alfred Kerr Prize for Literary Criticism

Since 1977, the Alfred Kerr Prize for Literary Criticism has honored outstanding individuals who consistently engage in literary criticism in German-language print, radio, or online media. Awarded by the Book Culture and Reading Promotion Foundation of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association in cooperation with the trade magazine Börsenblatt and supported by the Klett Foundation, this prize recognizes ongoing work of a high linguistic standard. The jury consists of experts from literary studies, publishing, and cultural mediation who monitor the literary criticism landscape throughout the German-speaking region year-round. Rather than focusing on a single critique, the emphasis is on the continuity of journalistic commitment, understood as an art form in its own right—true to the namesake Alfred Kerr, who regarded criticism as a demanding craft.

With an endowment of 5,000 euros, the prize supports the high journalistic standard of German-language literary criticism and contributes to fostering public debates about books and culture. There is no formal application process, as the selection takes place during an annual jury meeting: the panel of experts compiles a candidate list based on established criteria—continuity and linguistic quality—and selects the laureates from this list. In doing so, the award makes a significant contribution to strengthening literary diversity and underscores the importance of well-founded opinion formation in the media.