Arnold Stadler

He was born on 9 April 1954 in Meßkirch in the district of Sigmaringen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. Stadler grew up on a farm in Rast, a small village adjoining Sauldorf, a neighboring village of his birthplace Meßkirch. Stadler studied catholic theology in Munich and Rome, German philology at Freiburg im Breisgau and Köln, ending with a doctoral degree (Dr. phil.). The first serious and prominent recommendation regarding his works came 1994 of Martin Walser (Der Spiegel No. 31 from 1 August 1994). The partial autobiographically affected works play frequently in his region of origin (Heimat), the landscape between the Danube and the Lake of Constance. The change of this rurally shaped area and its homelessness (Heimatlosigkeit) are recurring topics in his literary works.

Stadler is member of the foundation board for the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade.^{[citation needed]}