Literary summer comes to the region around Düsseldorf with German and Dutch authors

Literary Summer
:
A reading festival from Amsterdam to Düsseldorf

–

Jessica Durlacher opens the Literary Summer.
Photo: Billie Glaser

–
–

Düsseldorf The Literary Summer begins on July 5th with a reading by Jessica Durlacher from her new novel “The Voice”. Until September, the German-Dutch reading festival offers a packed program with 27 authors and 50 events in 21 cities.

–

When the Literary Summer was launched 23 years ago on the initiative of the city libraries of Neuss, Krefeld and Mönchengladbach, nobody could have guessed how popular the German-Dutch reading festival would become. “We have many regular visitors who have remained loyal to us over this long period of time,” says Maren Jungclaus from the NRW Literature Office. The has just moved into its new domicile at Konrad-Adenauer-Platz 1 (KAP 1). Jessica Durlacher will open the festival there in the city library on Tuesday, July 5, from 7 p.m. with a reading from her new novel “The Voice”. Admission is free.

–

Sharon Dodua Otoo will be in Düsseldorf on August 17th.
*Photo: Ralf Steinberger*

–

Until September, the Literary Summer offers a program of readings, talks with authors and music in 21 cities. The spectrum ranges from prose to poetry and thrillers to non-fiction and children’s books.

–

On August 19th, Willi will be reading in Korschenbroich.
*Photo: Heike Lachmann/Photo: Heike Lachmann*

–

In the early years, the program was still organized thematically. “It always had something to do with travel, but we soon ran out of topics,” recalls Jungclaus. So the initiators broadened their spectrum and henceforth focused on authors and works in order to offer an overview of the German-Dutch literary scene. All authors read during the festival in both countries, including Venlo, Amsterdam, Roermond, Kerkrade, Cologne, Neuss, Krefeld and Willich.

–

Hoeps & Toes will present the “Tallinn Twist” on July 12 in Kleve.
*Photo: Jörg Wüstkamp*

–

“The Netherlands and Germany traditionally work closely together in many areas. This cooperation is particularly dynamic in terms of culture,” says Peter Schuurman, Consul General of the Netherlands in Düsseldorf. The German-Dutch author duo Hoeps & Toes, who wrote the thriller “The Tallinn Twist”, show how well this can work, each in their own language. The two will present the book on July 12th in the Kleve district court. The reading festival offers the opportunity not only to get to know authors. It has also developed into a hot spot for translators, illustrators and publishers.

–

The venues are as broad as the program. In addition to libraries, there are readings at Moyland Castle, in the Amsterdam Goethe Institute, in the Neuss Clemens Sels Museum or on the Aachen Waldbühne and literary walks, such as on August 7th and 21st in Düsseldorf or on August 26th and 27th in August in Amsterdam.
In Düsseldorf, KAP 1 has announced Judith Kuckart (July 13), Nadire Biskin (July 27), Lize Spit (August 3) and the Kunststiftung NRW Shanon Dodua Otoo (August 17).

–

The preview of Heinrich Steinfest’s new novel in the Morsbroich Museum in Leverkusen on August 25, 7:30 p.m., and the joint reading by Toine Heijmans with his translator Ruth Löbner on July 7 in the Krefeld Stadtbad and on September 4 at Schloss Moyland, Bedburg Hau, are just two of the highlights of the festival.

–

Info The detailed program and tickets for individual events (10 euros each) or the festival pass (35 euros) are available at www.literarischer-sommer.eu or by telephone on 01 63/7 35 13 97.

–

Leave a Comment Cancel reply