Mircea Cartarescu

Mircea Cărtărescu (born 1 June 1956) is a Romanian poet, novelist and essayist.

Born in Bucharest, he graduated from the University of Bucharest's Faculty of Letters, Department of Romanian Language And Literature, in 1980. Between 1980 and 1989 he worked as a Romanian language teacher, then he worked at the Writers' Union and as an editor at the Caiete Critice magazine. In 1991 he became a lecturer at the Chair of Romanian literary history, part of the University of Bucharest Faculty of Letters. At present (2010), he is an associate professor. Between 1994-1995 he was a visiting lecturer at the University of Amsterdam.

Literary Prizes

• 1980: Romanian Writers' Union Prize
• 1989: Romanian Academy's Prize
• 1990: Romanian Writer's Unions Prize, Flacăra magazine Prize, Ateneu magazine Prize, Tomis magazine Prize, Cuvântul magazine Prize
• 1992: Le Rêve nominee for: Prix Mèdicis, Prix Union Latine, Le meilleur livre étranger
• 1994: Romanian Writer's Union Prize, ASPRO Prize, Moldavian Writers' Union Prize
• 1996: ASPRO Prize, Flacăra magazine Prize, Ateneu magazine Prize, Tomis magazine Prize, Cuvântul magazine Prize
• 1997: Flacăra magazine Prize, Ateneu magazine Prize, Tomis magazine Prize, Cuvântul magazine Prize
• 1999: Orbitor's French translation nominee for Prix Union Latine
• 2000: Romanian Writers' Association Prize
• 2002: ASPRO Prize, AER Prize
• 2006: Grand Officer of the Cultural Merit Order (Ordinul "Meritul cultural" în grad de mare ofiţer), awarded by Romanian Presidency
• 2011: Vilenica Prize