»Die Mitte Europas?« Ein Abend mit Radka Denemarková & Michal Hvorecký

Moderator: Alex Rühle (Süddeutsche Zeitung)

Central Europe has always been regarded as the continent’s barometer. Radka Denemarková and Michal Hvorecký, two of the most prominent public intellectuals from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, discuss cultural policy and society: How do art, culture, and the media come under pressure? What remains of the hopes of 1989? Denemarková’s novel *Chocolate Blood* (Hoffmann & Campe // German translation by Eva Profousová) traces the roots of colonialism, capitalism, and patriarchal power back to the 19th century. Hvorecký’s essay “Dissident” (Tropen) looks back at the “Velvet Revolution” and current threats to democracy. A conversation about freedom and the power of literature.

Advance ticket sales begin on September 1, 2026

Organizers: Literaturhaus Foundation // Adalbert Stifter Association // Czech Literature Center // supported by the German-Czech Future Fund