And Now? International Congress of the Literary Sector in a Time of Political Upheaval

Alberto Manguel:
Welcome to the Circus

Literary festivals as places readers come to see their favourite authors perform their magic acts, and discover magicians who can pull new rabbits out of old hats. In the long-ago days of my childhood, one of the greatest thrills was going to the circus. Acrobats swinging in mid-air, elephants and tigers showing off unexpected skills, clowns falling over and making us laugh. I’m reminded of the circus of my childhood whenever I attend a literary festival.

Lidia Jorge:
The Door to Poetry

This moment of profound contradictions that we are currently experiencing – whether on a global level or within our own communities – is reflected not only in the books being published, but also in the feelings and sensibilities of writers from different languages and countries of origin. Yet personal encounters and the living word of poetry remind us time and again of what is essential: that we are all part of the same human family, and that it is therefore worth listening to one another. The door to poetry never closes; it is a space open to all the storms and hopes of life.

Jürgen Boos:
Responsibility of the book world

Stefan Weidner, Cologne, Germany:
Literature Beyond the ‘Safe Space’. An Intervention

Literature, too, is being caught up in the political struggles of our time. As a “safe space,” a “heterotopia,” and a site of “discourse free of domination,” literature and the literary world have had their day. Instead, they reflect global power relations and are subject to them, for instance in the form of the book market or of festivals. But the end of literature as a “safe space” also allows for new freedom. Let’s make use of it!

Moderation: Michi Strausfeld

Language: English