Born in Kamering / Carinthia on 3 March 1953.
After attending business school for many years, worked in the administration of Klagenfurt University. Literary working circle together with Alois Brandstetter, editor of the literary journal Schreibarbeiten.
Freelance writer since 1982, author of novels, short stories and novellas. Much of his work is distinguished by the vehement conflict with his father, a Carinthian farmer, who attained the Biblical age of 99 and to whom the ‘requiem’ entitled Roppongi (published in 2007) is dedicated.
Lives in Klagenfurt / Carinthia.
- 2008 Georg Büchner Prize
- 2008 Grand Austrian State Prize

Selected works
- Menschenkind (‘Human Child’), novel. Frankfurt/M.: Suhrkamp, 1979.
- Der Ackermann aus Kärnten (‘The Ploughman from Carinthia’), novel. Frankfurt/M.: Suhrkamp, 1980.
- Muttersprache (‘Mother Tongue’), novel. Frankfurt/M.: Suhrkamp, 1982.
-Das wilde Kärnten. Trilogie. Drei Bände (‘Wild Carinthia. Trilogy. Three Volumes’). Frankfurt/M.: Suhrkamp, 1984.
- Der Leibeigene (‘The Serf’), novel. Frankfurt/M.: Suhrkamp, 1987.
- Friedhof der bitteren Orangen (‘Cemetery of Bitter Oranges’), novel. Frankfurt/M.: Suhrkamp, 1990.
- Domra. Am Ufer des Ganges (‘Domra. On the Banks of the Ganges’), novel. Frankfurt/M.: Suhrkamp, 1996.
- Leichnam, seine Famillie belauernd (‘Corpse Eavesdropping on its Family’), Frankfurt/M.: Surhkamp, 2003.
- Rappongi. Requiem für einen Vater (‘Rappongi. Requiem for a Father’), Frankfurt/M.: Suhrkamp, 2007.
- Ich reiß mir eine Wimper aus und stech dich damit tot (‘I Pull out an Eyelid and Stab You To Death’), Frankfurt / M.: Suhrkamp, 2008.

(Photo: Harald Minich)