Messing About in Boats
literary criticism · First published 2021
Author guide
Michael Hofmann Books in Order
Michael Hofmann was born in Freiburg, Germany, in 1957 and moved to England as a child. He studied at Cambridge University and has published poetry, essays, literary criticism, and art writing. He is also a major translator of German literature and has taught at the University of Florida.
poetryessaysliterary criticismtranslation
Catalog record updated .
Michael Hofmann's Newest Book
Not sure where to begin?
Start with one of these
Nights in the Iron Hotel
His first poetry collection and the clearest starting point for his original work.
Where Have You Been? Selected Essays
A representative entry point to his criticism and essays.
Outside the series
Bibliography by category
Nonfiction (1)
- Messing About in Boats
literary criticism · 2021
Essays and speeches (2)
- Behind the Lines: Pieces on Writing and Pictures
essay collection · 2001
- Where Have You Been? Selected Essays
essay collection · 2014
Poetry (6)
- Nights in the Iron Hotel
poetry collection · 1983
- Acrimony
poetry collection · 1986
- K.S. in Lakeland: New and Selected Poems
poetry collection · 1990
- Corona, Corona
poetry collection · 1993
- Approximately Nowhere
poetry collection · 1999
- One Lark, One Horse
poetry collection · 2018
Edited works (2)
- Poetry Introduction 5
poetry anthology · 1982
- Penguin Modern Poets 13
poetry anthology · 1998
Other (1)
- Arturo Di Stefano
art monograph · 2001
Frequently asked questions about Michael Hofmann
Who is Michael Hofmann?
Michael Hofmann is a German-born poet, essayist, literary critic, and translator who grew up largely in England after moving there as a child. He was born in Freiburg in 1957 and studied at Cambridge University.
What is Michael Hofmann best known for?
He is especially known for translating German literature into English, alongside his work as a poet and critic. His translations include works by Franz Kafka, Joseph Roth, Hans Fallada, and Bertolt Brecht.
Sources: english.ufl.edu (opens in a new tab)poetryfoundation.org (opens in a new tab)
How did Michael Hofmann’s family background influence his writing?
Hofmann’s father was the German novelist Gert Hofmann, and German literature was central to his upbringing. He has described encountering writers such as Kafka, Thomas Mann, Rilke, and Musil at an early age, while his poetry often explores his relationship with his father and his German-English identity.
Sources: deutscheakademie.de (opens in a new tab)lsupress.org (opens in a new tab)
What awards has Michael Hofmann won?
His honors include the Cholmondeley Award, Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize, PEN/Book-of-the-Month Club Translation Prize, IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, Oxford-Weidenfeld Translation Prize, and Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator’s Prize. He has also received the American Academy’s Thornton Wilder Prize in Translation.
Sources: poetryfoundation.org (opens in a new tab)nationalbook.org (opens in a new tab)
Why is Michael Hofmann significant to contemporary literature?
Hofmann is regarded as an important bridge between German and English literary cultures through his translations, poetry, and criticism. His work has also influenced other poets and helped broaden English-language access to major German-language writers.
Sources: poetryfoundation.org (opens in a new tab)lsupress.org (opens in a new tab)