{b.1943 into a jewish family in Budapest). He studied German History at the University of Moscow. His first book, a volume of poetry, appeared in 1964. He was a member of the Hungarian CP until 1968. In the same year, he was tried for anti-state activities (so-called Maoist trials of Budapest), and a work and selective publication ban was imposed. He worked as a translator. Participation in the democratic opposition of Hungary. 1984: Grant of the Berlin Künstlerprogramm of the DAAD and work at the Eastern Europe reserach institute at the University of Bremen. Since 1987 he has alternately been in Vienna und Budapest. Contributions to German radio stations and Newspapers. 1992-1996: Member of the executive board of the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung e.V. Cologne. Awards: Adelbert von Chamisso Preis, 1995, Gryphius-Sonderpreis, 1999. 1995-1999: Director of the Hungarian cultural institute in Berlin und literary Curator of the Focal Theme "Ungarn unbegrenzt" at the Frankfurt bookfair 1999. He currently lives as a freelance author in Berlin.