Literary Prize - The Second Novel

The biennial Literature Prize "The Second Novel" is awarded every two years in November by the Christian & Ursula Voß Foundation in cooperation with the Literaturhaus Hamburg. It honors outstanding German-language second novels published in 2022 or 2023. From the submissions, a three-member expert jury—comprising literary scholars, cultural journalists, and independent mediators—selects works distinguished by linguistic precision, narrative innovation, and thematic depth. The prize is endowed with €4,000 and is aimed at independent authors from the entire German-speaking region who have already established a literary name with their debut and now wish to take the next important step in their writing careers.

The funding aims to strengthen the literary work of emerging writers and to stimulate discussion about new narrative forms in the German-speaking world. Eligible to participate are all private individuals with a published second novel that meets the formal and temporal requirements. The jury’s decision is based on the overall quality of the novel and its degree of innovation. Applications can be submitted within the deadlines announced on the Christian & Ursula Voß Foundation’s website. The shortlist is announced in spring, and the award ceremony takes place in November at the Literaturhaus Hamburg, providing the laureates with a significant platform in Hamburg’s cultural scene.