The Latest at Goethe

Marcel Reich-Ranicki, the preeminent advocate of German literature, passed away in Frankfurt am Main at the age of 93. For him, literature was a living part of society, it was his true avenue, it was his home. A tribute by Klaus-Dieter Lehmann

Marcel Reich-Ranicki represented literature forcefully, disputatiously and ardently. His inspiring and exciting effect on the literary scene was profoundly formative. He stirred it up with new and pointed arguments and left us with no doubt of how decisive literature is for him to reflect, negotiate and convey society.

It was here that his interests met those of the Goethe-Institut, for which literature programmes and literature advancement abroad have central importance. With it, we create access to the German language, to German literature, but just as well to German society. He incited us, he challenged us, he had a decisive influence on our understanding of literature. He also brought the significance of our literary heritage home to us, whereby our name-giver, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, was his very personal companion.

With his literary canon, Marcel Reich-Ranicki not only gave Germans new access to contemporary literature and a new understanding of literature, but also was an insistent admonisher upon whom the atrocities of National Socialism inflicted harrowing occurrences and indignities and yet who nevertheless pledged himself to German culture.