Michael Augustin was born in Lübeck in 1953. He studied Anglo-Irish Literature and Folklore at University College Dublin and the University of Kiel. He now lives in Bremen with his wife, Indian poet Sujata Bhatt. He writes poetry, mini drama, short prose and is also active as an artist and visual poet. His collages and drawings have appeared  in magazines worldwide. His most recent books are Der stärkste Mann der Welt, a collection of short prose, poems and collages (2018), Hurly-Burly, a collection of visual poems, Dr. Frankenstein's Patchwork Catalogue, collage (both 2020), Herring & Smelt -Collages (2021) and a poetry book for children Hier kommt der stärkste Mann der Welt, illustrated by Sabine Kranz (2021).

He has worked as a writer and broadcaster with Radio Bremen for almost 40 years. Besides writing and producing radio documentaries, he has concentrated on presenting and promoting poetry from all over the world. Augustin has directed the international festival Poetry on the Road in Bremen and he has curated and participated in the international poetry caravan “What is Poetry“ which took place in Indonesia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

His books have been translated into many languages, and he has read at poetry festivals around the globe (Medellín, Hanoi, Mexico City, Granada, Bali, Dublin, Malmö, Caracas, Athens, Struga and others).

Augustin is the recipient of the Friedrich-Hebbel-Prize, the Kurt-Magnus-Prize and the Premio Casa Bukowski Internacional de Poesía. In 1984 he was a member of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa. He was also writer in residence at Dickinson College in the USA, the University of Bath in England and at the Heinrich-Böll-Cottage in Ireland. He is a member P.E.N. International.

Books published in English & Irish:

Michael Augustin: A Certain Koslowski. Translated by Margitt Lehbert. With illustrations by Hartmut Eing. Todmorden: Arc, 1992.

Michael Augustin: Ad infinitum. Poems and Epigrams / Dánta agus Burúin / Gedichte und Epigramme. Aistritheoirí Gabriel Rosenstock agus Hans Christian-Oeser. Baile Átha Cliath: Coiscéim, 2001.

Michael Augustin: Mickle Makes Muckle. Poems, Mini Plays & Short Prose. Translated from the German by Sujata Bhatt. Afterword by Philip Casey. Dublin: Dedalus, 2007.

Michael Augustin: Das System hat keine Krise. Collages. Dugort, Achill Island: Redfoxpress, 2016.

Michael Augustin: A Certain Koslowski: The Director's Cut. Translated by Sujata Bhatt & Margitt Lehbert. With illustrations by Hartmut Eing. Todmorden: Arc, 2016.

Michael Augustin: Without Prior Warning. Collages / Visual Poetry. Dugort, Achill Island: Redfoxpress, 2018.

Michael Augustin: Hurly-Burly - Visual Poems. Dugort, Achill Island: Redfoxpress, 2020.

Michael Augustin: Dr. Frankenstein's Patchwork Catalogue, Collages, Dugort, Achill Island: Redfoxpress, 2020

Michael Augustin: Herring & Smelt, Collages, Dugort, Achill Island: Redfoxpress, 2021