The Reader, first published in 1995, achieved unprecedented international reach as the first German novel to secure the top position on the New York Times bestseller list. Bernhard Schlink, its author, built a multifaceted career bridging the rigorous demands of public law with the nuanced exploration of historical memory and moral responsibility through literature.
Academic and Legal Foundation
Born in 1944 in Bielefeld, Schlink pursued an extensive legal education at Heidelberg University, the University of Freiburg, and Freie Universität Berlin. His professional trajectory combined academia with the judiciary; he served as a professor of public law and the philosophy of law at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, having previously held positions at the University of Bonn and Goethe University Frankfurt. In 1988, he became a judge at the Constitutional Court of North Rhine-Westphalia, maintaining a long-standing involvement in legal theory until his retirement from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2013.
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Schlink debuted as a novelist with detective fiction, notably the Selb series co-authored with Walter Popp, including Self's Punishment. His 1989 work Die gordische Schleife earned him the Friedrich Glauser Award. While his early output focused on genre fiction, his subsequent writing shifted toward complex moral landscapes. The Reader, translated into 39 languages, examined post-war culpability through the narrative of a teenager involved with a woman later tried for war crimes. Following this success, he published various works such as Flights of Love and The Weekend, further solidifying his standing within PEN Germany.
Recognition and Legacy
Over several decades, Schlink has received numerous accolades for his literary and academic contributions. He was awarded the Hans Fallada Prize in 1998, the Evangelischer Buchpreis in 2000, and the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2004. His international profile continued to grow, marked by the 2014 Pak Kyong-ni Prize. His non-fiction work, including Guilt About the Past, reflects his ongoing engagement with historical themes, often informed by his background in jurisprudence.
Fast facts
- Born: 1944, Bielefeld
- Education: Heidelberg University, Freie Universität Berlin
- Profession: Jurist, judge, novelist
- Notable Work: The Reader
- Award: Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit (2004)
- Award: Pak Kyong-ni Prize (2014)
- Member: PEN Germany
Questions readers ask
What is the Selb series?
It is a collection of detective novels written by Schlink and Walter Popp, featuring a protagonist named Selb.
Where did Schlink teach law?
He taught at the University of Bonn, Goethe University Frankfurt, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.
Achievements
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 2004
- Pak Kyong-ni Prize — 2014
- Notable work: The Reader
- Notable work: Flights of love
