Lieben ist das schöne Leben

Presentation of the anthology for the Menantes Literature Prize 2025
Reading & music
Erotic literature connects people from all over the world

Named after the gallant author Christian Friedrich Hunold, who was born in Wandersleben in Thuringia in 1680 and adopted the pseudonym MENANTES as an author from 1700, the literary prize for erotic poetry named after him was awarded for the first time in 2006. The Menantes-Förderkreis Wandersleben thus brought the long-forgotten poet back into the present and developed an important literary project in Central Germany with the Menantes Literary Prize for Erotic Poetry.
In 2025, this special literary prize was awarded for the 9th time. A total of 857 erotic poems and short stories were submitted by authors from 15 countries. A jury selected the 30 best poems and short stories for an anthology, which will be published by Mitteldeutscher Verlag under the title "Loving is the beautiful life" and presented at the Erfurt Autumn Reading. The five finalists, who will compete in the reading competition on June 21 in Wandersleben, will read their works once again.

Moderation: Iris Geisler

In cooperation with the Menantes-Förderkreis Wandersleben, the Thüringer Literaturrat and Mitteldeutscher Verlag