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Portrait of Uwe Tellkamp

Uwe Tellkamp

b. 1968

German writer and physician

Physician Physician writerNovelist
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About Uwe Tellkamp

Born 1968. Uwe Tellkamp is a German physician, physician writer, novelist, screenwriter and writer.

Uwe Tellkamp (; born 28 October 1968) is a German writer and physician. He practised medicine until 2004. Before the fall of communism, he was enlisted in the National People's Army as a tank commander and imprisoned when he refused to break up a demonstration in October 1989. Until the fall of the German Democratic Republic shortly after, he was prohibited from studying medicine.

In 2008 Tellkamp was awarded the German Book Prize for his novel Der Turm (The Tower), which describes life in 1980s East Germany.

Political views In 2017 Tellkamp signed the "Charta 2017", criticizing the ostracism of 'New Right' publishers at the Leipzig book fair ("Leipziger Buchmesse"). "Most [refugees] are not trying to escape war and prosecution but come [to Germany] to migrate into the social support system, more than 95%."

In March 2018 he signed the "Joint Statement 2018" ("Gemeinsame Erklärung 2018"), declaring: "We observe the damage done to Germany by illegal mass immigration with growing disconcertment. We declare our solidarity with those who are peacefully rallying for the restoration of the constitutional order at the borders of our country."".

Works Der Hecht, die Träume und das Portugiesische Café (2000) Der Eisvogel (2005) Der Turm (2008) Reise zur Blauen Stadt (2009) Die Schwebebahn: Dresdner Erkundungen (2012)

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Important facts

Birth century
Education
Leipzig University, TU Dresden
Awards
Ingeborg Bachmann Prize; German Book Prize; Dresdner Lyrikpreis; German National Prize; Kulturpreis der deutschen Freimaurer

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Uwe Tellkamp's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Uwe Tellkamp?

German writer and physician

When was Uwe Tellkamp born?

Uwe Tellkamp was born on 28 October 1968 in Dresden.

What is Uwe Tellkamp's occupation?

Uwe Tellkamp is a physician, physician writer, novelist, screenwriter and writer.

What nationality is Uwe Tellkamp?

Uwe Tellkamp is German.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Uwe Tellkamp

· Wikidata: Q62892

· DBpedia: Uwe Tellkamp

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Uwe Tellkamp. https://biography.guide/uwe-tellkamp/

MLA: "Uwe Tellkamp." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/uwe-tellkamp/.

Chicago: "Uwe Tellkamp." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/uwe-tellkamp/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-26 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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