World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Ulrich Horstmann

ウルリヒ・ホルストマン

Ulrich Horstmann

Pen Names: Klaus Steintal（Pseudonym used for some works）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1949-05-31 （Bünde, Germany）
Nationality
Germany
Languages
German, English
Residence History
Bünde → Pretoria, South Africa → Münster (University) → Giessen (professorship) → Marburg

Career

Occupations
literary scholar, writer, university professor, translator
Active Years
1974-
Affiliations
International PEN Germany, Justus Liebig University Giessen, University of Münster (former affiliation)
Memberships
International PEN Germany
Influenced By
Arthur Schopenhauer, Philipp Mainländer

Education

—
English and Philosophy
Degree: 博士
Year of Graduation: 1974
Completed doctoral thesis on Edgar Allan Poe in 1974. Habilitation (postdoctoral qualification) obtained in 1983.

Awards

Kleist Prize
1988
Organization: Kleist Prize (awarding body)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Das Untier (The Beast)

1983 philosophical essay / treatise

A provocative philosophical treatise arguing that humanity is preprogrammed to eliminate itself. The author advances extreme pessimism and nihilism and controversially discusses the idea of human extinction via nuclear means, drawing significant attention and debate.

philosophical pessimismmisanthropynihilismhuman extinctionwar and destruction

Ansätze zu einer technomorphen Theorie der Dichtung bei Edgar Allan Poe

1975 academic study / criticism

A theoretical study of Edgar Allan Poe's poetry, attempting to analyze literature from a technomorphic perspective.

literary theorycriticismEdgar Allan Poe

Das Glück von OmB'assa (The Luck of OmB'assa)

1985 novel (fantastic fiction)

A novel with fantastic elements that reflects Horstmann's characteristic sardonic and nihilistic perspective.

fantasyvoid/nihilismirony/sardonicism

Bibliography

  • Ansätze zu einer technomorphen Theorie der Dichtung bei Edgar Allan Poe (1975)
  • "Er starb aus freiem Entschluß". Ein Schriftwechsel mit Nekropolis (1976) (as Klaus Steintal)
  • Wortkadavericon oder kleine thermonukleare Versschule für jedermann (1977)
  • Das Untier (1983)
  • Das Glück von OmB'assa (1985)
  • Numerous other essays, poems, plays, and translations

Translations by Author

  • Robert Burton: translation of The Anatomy of Melancholy (1988)
  • Ted Hughes: translated poems (1995)
  • Jack London: translation of The Sea-Wolf (1990)

Translations of Works

  • Spanish translation of Das Untier: El monstruo – Perfiles de una filosofía antropófuga (2024)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
incisive, ironical, essayistic prosefrequent use of aphorisms and short essaysmix of academic analysis and personal essay
Recurring Motifs
death and destructionmisery/anti-human sentimentmelancholycritique of civilization

Legacy

Horstmann has been active both as a literary scholar and creative writer in the German-speaking world. He attracted significant attention and controversy for the extreme philosophical pessimism in Das Untier (1983). Alongside his academic work, his translations and criticism have contributed to the reception of English and American literature. Reception is mixed; his positions remain controversial, but his work continues to be studied and translated.

Academic Societies

  • International PEN Germany

Archives

  • Related holdings at Justus Liebig University Giessen

Quotes

  • “The history of the Beast is fulfilled, and in humility it awaits a double death — the physical annihilation and the obliteration of the recollection to itself.”
    Source: Das Untier (1983)

Trivia

  • Has published under the pseudonym Klaus Steintal for some works.
  • Received the Kleist Prize in 1988, nominated by Günter Kunert.
  • Provoked controversy for advocating extreme ideas about human extinction in Das Untier.
  • Resident of Marburg; has produced numerous translations and scholarly works in English and German.