Retrogott's Traces and Detours Wins 2025 Uwe Johnson Prize for Literary Debut
Author and musician Kurt Tallert, known by his stage name 'Retrogott', has won the 2025 Uwe Johnson Prize for emerging writers. His debut book, Traces and Detours, examines his father's persecution under Nazism as a so-called 'half-Jew'. The work blends biography with personal reflections on memory and identity.
Tallert's book grew from his discovery of his father's letters and recordings. These materials deepened his understanding of a man who endured discrimination during the Nazi era. The result is a narrative that intertwines historical account with the author's own struggles over heritage.
The Catholic Academy of the Diocese of Fulda recently hosted a series of events on antisemitism, remembrance, and coexistence. On January 27—the international day marking Holocaust remembrance—Tallert closed the programme with a special evening at the academy.
Traces and Detours has now earned him the Uwe Johnson Prize, an honour recognising outstanding new literary voices. The award highlights the book's contribution to discussions on history, family, and the lingering effects of persecution.
The Uwe Johnson Prize brings wider attention to Tallert's exploration of his father's past. His work joins ongoing conversations about memory and the responsibilities of later generations. The book is now available to readers interested in personal histories shaped by the Nazi era.
