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Navid Kermani

ナヴィード・ケルマーニ

Navid Kermani

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1967-11-27 （Siegen, West Germany）
Nationality
Germany, Iran
Languages
German, Persian, English
Religion
Islam
Residence History
Siegen (birthplace) → Cologne (current residence)

Career

Occupations
Novelist, Essayist, Orientalist, Critic
Active Years
1982-
Affiliations
North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts (Member), Avicenna-Studienwerk (Board of Trustees), Goethe-Institut (Member of the Committee for the Goethe Medal), Green Helmets (Board of Trustees)
Memberships
North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts, Avicenna-Studienwerk (Board of Trustees), Goethe-Institut (Committee for the Goethe Medal)
Influenced By
Nasr Hamid Abu Zayd

Education

University of Cologne
Philosophy, Oriental Studies, Drama
Country: Germany
Studied in Cologne, later also studied in Cairo and Bonn
Institution in Cairo (studies)
Oriental Studies
Country: Egypt
Studied in Cairo (details not specified)
University of Bonn
Oriental Studies
Country: Germany
Doctoral thesis was later published in English translation

Awards

Hessian Cultural Prize
2009
Organization: State of Hesse
Result: 受賞
Buber-Rosenzweig Medal
2011
Organization: Buber-Rosenzweig Foundation (awarding body)
Result: 受賞
Hannah Arendt Prize
2011
Organization: Awarding organization (Germany)
Result: 受賞
Kleist Prize
2012
Organization: Kleist Foundation
Result: 受賞
Cicero Prize (public speaking)
2012
Category: 演説・スピーチ
Organization: Cicero Prize organization
Result: 受賞
Joseph Breitbach Prize
2014
Organization: Joseph Breitbach Foundation
Result: 受賞
Peace Prize of the German Publishers' Association
2015
Organization: German Publishers' Association
Result: 受賞
Jan Michalski Prize for Literature (finalist)
2015
Work: Between Quran and Kafka: West-eastern Affinities
Organization: Jan Michalski Foundation
Result: 最終候補
Friedrich-Hölderlin-Preis
2020
Organization: Bad Homburg awarding body
Result: 受賞
Thomas Mann Prize
2024
Organization: Thomas Mann Prize awarding organization
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

God Is Beautiful: The Aesthetic Experience of the Quran

2000 Religious philosophy / Academic / Essay

Based on his doctoral thesis, discusses the aesthetic experience of the Quran and proposes readings of religious texts from an aesthetic perspective.

religion and aestheticstextual interpretationIslamic thought
Translations
  • English translation 'God Is Beautiful'

Between Quran and Kafka: West-eastern Affinities

2014 Essays / Travel writing / Cultural studies

A collection of essays exploring points of contact and dialogue between the Islamic world and Western culture, blending personal experience and scholarly reflection.

dialoguecross-cultural comparisonreligion and modernity
Translations
  • English translation 'Between Quran and Kafka'

Upheaval: The Refugee Trek through Europe

2016 Reportage / Travelogue

A document of following refugees across Europe, observing their journeys and portraying political and humanitarian issues from the field.

refugee crisismovement and bordershumanitarianism
Translations
  • English translation 'Upheaval'

Wonder Beyond Belief: On Christianity

2015 Religious reflection / Essay

A collection of essays on Christianity that encourages interreligious understanding and dialogue.

understanding Christianityinterreligious dialoguefaith and reason
Translations
  • English translation 'Wonder Beyond Belief'

Bibliography

  • Offenbarung als Kommunikation
  • Gott ist schön / God Is Beautiful
  • Iran: Die Revolution der Kinder
  • Vierzig Leben
  • Between Quran and Kafka
  • Upheaval / The Refugee Trek through Europe
  • Tomorrow Is Here: Speeches

Translations by Author

  • German translation and edition of works by Mehdi Bazargan and others (editor/translator role)

Translations of Works

  • 'God Is Beautiful' (English translation)
  • 'Between Quran and Kafka' (English translation)
  • 'Upheaval' (English translation)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
blend of scholarly analysis and personal essayclear, persuasive essayistic voicereportage-style writing based on travel and observation
Recurring Motifs
religion and faithcross-cultural dialoguemigration/refugees and identitymemory and history

Legacy

Kermani is regarded as an important voice on religion and culture both in Germany and internationally, influential in scholarly works and public essays. He has received numerous literary and civic honors and is known as a proponent of interreligious dialogue.

Academic Societies

  • North Rhine-Westphalian Academy of Sciences, Humanities and the Arts

Quotes

  • "God is beautiful."
    Source: Book 'God Is Beautiful' (2000)
  • "Dialogue is not a one-sided concession but an effort to seek mutual understanding."
    Source: Lecture/essay (general) (2015)

Trivia

  • Began writing at age 15 as a local reporter.
  • After controversy around the 2009 Hessian Cultural Prize, he donated part of his prize money to a Christian priest.
  • Holds dual German and Iranian citizenship.