Nordische Literaturtage 2023

In the organizer's words:

At the Nordic Literature Days we present extraordinary authors from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, who you should experience live. Even more than before, we focus on conversation - in different constellations on stage and in the original language with German translation.

Critical views of the often idealized portrayal of Northern European societies find just as much a place here as the mystical. Partly ironic preoccupations with clichés and traditions - or reflections on memory or on self-empowerment are further themes. Look forward with us to numerous facets of Nordic literature.

Books from this and last year are represented, all of which have completely captured our attention and which absolutely must be presented in Hamburg. Small, independent publishers are just as present on the program as large, long-established ones. And of course our applause also goes to the translators, without whom none of this would be possible.

The program of the four festival evenings is rounded off by the reading club for Literaturhaus members in advance and "Focus Sweden" with a translation workshop and industry meeting.

Further information and program details can be found in the festival program booklet and at literaturhaus-hamburg.de/NLT.

On the opening evening we will connect two generations of Northern European literature. In the works of Pirkko Saisio from Finland and Luka Holmegaard from Denmark, self-determination and breaking out of gender norms are central motifs in their literarily complex texts.

On Tuesday, we welcome Roskva Koritzinsky and Helga Flatland from Norway and Johanne Lykke Holm from Sweden, three female authors between 30 and 40, who will first present their books one after the other. Afterwards, they will enter into conversation with each other and with the audience - about (feminist) writing and reading.

On Wednesday, mainly Swedish will be spoken. Daniel Gustafsson and Jonas Gren will be there with their novels that have not yet been translated. How do we narrate our existence? Thoughts on this are formulated by Ia Genberg. The Finnish Swede Monika Fagerholm also raises the question of how language shapes our perception and ability to act, albeit in a completely different way.

On Thursday, the Danish Solvej Balle and the Icelandic Auður Jónsdóttir reflect on remembering and forgetting - sometimes clever and insightful, sometimes disturbing and exciting. Finally, Hallgrímur Helgason from Iceland and Simone Buchholz from Hamburg, two writers full of extravagant ideas and a love of the bizarre, will meet.

All evenings promise thought-provoking and entertaining conversations - on and in front of the stage.