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Gerhard Prange is one of six million Germans who are unable to read or write. Letters from the authorities were left unanswered, leading to all kinds of problems; Prange began drinking and his marriage broke up. Finally he reached a turning point, and admitted that he was illiterate. For him, it was a liberating move and since then his life has improved. He’s stopped drinking, has a regular job and above all, the 63 year old has decided to go back to school and take part in a literacy course. He still needs nearly an hour to write a sentence without mistakes, with the help of a teacher. But he’s set himself a goal, one day Gerhard Prange plans to write a letter to his adult daughter. A report by Axel Rowohlt.