Saša Stanišić: Mein Unglück beginnt damit, dass der Stromkreis als Rechteck abgebildet wird (Literaturtage Recklinghausen 2026)

Saša Stanišić: “My misfortune begins with the fact that the electrical circuit is depicted as a rectangle”

What can literature achieve in a world full of crises? In his new book, Saša Stanišić brings together speeches that offer intelligent, humorous, and personal reflections on responsibility, language, and social engagement.

With his unmistakable voice, Stanišić blends seriousness and lightheartedness, everyday observations and absurd stories. He writes about family and heritage, about courage and compassion, about politics and poetry—and about why taking action is more important than resignation. For, as one of his most pithy lines goes: “The opposite of death is action.”

Amid whimsical anecdotes, subtle irony, and literary imagination, an evening unfolds that inspires laughter, reflection, and active participation. Stanišić demonstrates that literature can still be a place where hope, conviction, and imagination converge.

An inspiring evening with one of the most important contemporary German-language authors—on language, responsibility, and the power of good stories.