Karl Dedecius is a famous German translator of Russian and Polish literature. He was born on 20th May, 1921 in the city of Lodz. He did his schooling from Polish Stefan-Zeromski High School. He joined the Reich Labor Service after Poland was invaded by Germany in World War II. Later he joined the German Army.
Translator Karl Dedecius was imprisoned after the Battle of Stalingrad. During his days in the prison, he leant Russian language. He was released from the jail in 1950. He went to West Germany in 1952 where he joined Allianz AG insurance company. Slowly and steadily he involved himself into Polish literary translation. He came in contact with several Polish writers too. 'Lektion der Stille Lesson of Silence' (1959) is the first anthology published by him.
German Poland Institute of Darmstadt was founded by Karl Dedecius in 1979-80. He was the Director of this institute till 1999. He was awarded with the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade (1990). Besides, he also received the Samuel-Bogumil-Linde-Preis (1997). He has translated works of Polish writers like Wislawa Szymborska, Stanislaw Jerzy Lec, Tadeusz Rozewicz and Czeslaw Milosz.
Some of his notable achievements are the 50-volume 'Polish Library', 7-volume 'Panorama of Polish Literature of the 20th Century' and 'Canon'. From 2004 onwards, Karl-Dedecius-Preis for translators awards
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is given out to the proficient translators. It is a joint effort of Robert Bosch Stiftung and German Poland Institute.
Some of the outstanding works of Karl Dedecius are:
- Ein Europaer aus Lodz: Erinnerungen' (A European from Lodz: Memoirs) in 2006
- Die Kunst der Ubersetzung' (The Art of Translating) in 2002
- Panorama der polnischen Literatur des 20. Jahrhunderts. Abt.V. Panorama. Ein Rundblick' (Panorama of Polish Literature of the 20th Century: Section V. Panorama.) in 2000
- Ost West Basar. Ansprachen Essays Wurdigungen' (East-West Bazaar: Addresses, Essays and Appreciations) in 1996
- Lebenslauf aus Buchern und Blattern' (A Curriculum Vitae Made of Books and Pages) in 1990
- Von Polens Poeten' (On Poland's Poets) in 1988
- Vom Ubersetzen. Theorie und Praxis' (Theory and Practice) in 1986
- Zur Literatur und Kultur Polens' (On the Literature and Culture of Poland) in 1981
- Polnische Profile' (Polish Profiles) in 1975
- Uberall ist Polen' (Poland is Everywhere) in 1974
- Deutsche und Polen. Botschaft der Bucher' (Germans and Poles: The Diplomacy of Books) in 1971
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