Romanpremiere "Die Scharfseherin" von Jürgen Wertheimer

On Friday, July 17, 2026, the book launch for Jürgen Wertheimer’s novel *Die Scharfseherin* will take place in the Knights’ Hall at Hohentübingen Castle. The evening will kick off with a small welcome aperitif starting at 7:30 p.m., and the event will begin at 8:00 p.m.

Jürgen Wertheimer will present his novel about Cassandra, wars, and love: Even as a child, Cassandra loved to observe. She soon realizes that perception alone isn’t enough if no one is willing to listen—so she takes matters into her own hands! Odys likes to play games, hangs around various courts, and has a dubious reputation. He wants to know what can be set in motion in the world between West and East. What begins as a strategic game escalates into the “mother of all battles.”

But then the story takes an unexpected turn, and Cassandra and Odysseus become accomplices in ending the stalemated war over Troy in a very unorthodox way. In a world where men write history, Cassandra becomes the source of ideas and a co-author. This novel is a gripping retelling of the classical stories of the *Iliad* and the *Odyssey*—far removed from pathos and gods, and close to the people, their motivations, and their blind spots.

“Light, elegant, and multi-layered, this retelling makes the ancient material surprisingly relevant today,” writes Cornelia Lorenz about the book. Dr. Stephan W. E. Blum of the University of Tübingen, an archaeologist with the “Troia Project,” has been involved in the on-site excavations for many years and says: “This is exactly how one can and should approach myths today. The idea of ‘translating’ them into everyday life—while subverting them with irony and playfulness—doesn’t diminish them, but rather brings them back to life and makes them relevant in the best sense of the word.” By the way: On July 16, “The Odyssey” is set to hit theaters as a colossal Hollywood blockbuster directed by Christopher Nolan—so the novel might serve as an intriguing counterpoint … Jürgen Wertheimer is a professor emeritus of international literature and an author in Tübingen. He leads the research project “Cassandra: Early Crisis Detection through Literary Analysis,” which he initiated. He has published many books, most recently the non-fiction work “Sorry Cassandra! Why We Are Incorrigible” (4th expanded edition, 2025).

Welcome remarks by Heinrich Riethmüller; reading by Thorsten Weckherlin (Artistic Director of the LTT, Landestheater Tübingen). Publisher Claudia Gehrke will also be in attendance. Followed by a glass of wine or other refreshments. Free admission. We look forward to celebrating the book launch with you.