Ian Kershaw has been chosen to receive the Leipzig Book Award for European Understanding 2012 for his work up to now, above all for the book published in 2011 by Deutsche Verlags-Anstalt, "Das Ende". Sir Ian Kershaw (born 1943, England) is a British historian of 20th-century Germany whose work has chiefly focused on the period of the Third Reich. He is regarded by many as one of the world's leading experts on Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany.
He was professor in Bochum, Germany, Nottingham and - until his retirement - at the University of Sheffield. Today he lives in Manchester.

Timothy Snyder has been chosen to receive the Leipzig Book Award for European Understanding 2012 for his work up to now, above all for the book published in 2011 by C.H.Beck, "Bloodlands". Timothy D. Snyder (born 1969, USA) is an American professor of history at Yale University, specializing in the history of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Holocaust. He is also affiliated with the Institut für die Wissenschaften vom Menschen in Vienna and the College d'Europe in Natolin. Today he lives in New Haven.

The award will be presented on 14 March 2012 as part of the official opening ceremony for the Leipzig Book Fair in the Gewandhaus, Leipzig.

Background

The Leipzig Book Award for European Understanding has been presented since 1994. It pays tribute to personalities who in their book publications have rendered outstanding services towards the advancement of reconciliation throughout Europe, particularly with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
The Awards Committee is made up of the City of Leipzig, the Free State of Saxony, the German Publishers & Booksellers Association and the Leipziger Messe GmbH. For these curators, the furtherance of European reconciliation, above all with Central and Eastern Europe, is seen as a particular responsibility for Leipzig as a traditional city of the book trade and book fairs, and they intend to contribute to its fulfilment in their joint presentation of the Leipzig Book Award for European Understanding.

A panel of prestigious international judges selects the award-winner. The Award is endowed with prize money of 15,000 euros.

City of Leipzig
Office for cultural affairs
New Townhall
G-04109 LEIPZIG

Beate Locker
Phone: +49 (0)341/ 123-4292
Fax: +49 (0)341/ 123-4237
E-mail: buchpreis@leipzig.de
 

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