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Bookshelf

Literature

Literature: The power of the pen

DW takes a closer look at the authors and books that are moving society and being talked about.

DW.DE

Literary provocateur Peter Handke turns 70

He wrote bestsellers, offended the audience and broke political taboos. Peter Handke, who turns 70 on December 6, is one of the most significant German-language authors of our time. (06.12.2012) 

Indian authors calling the shots

A surge in up-and-coming crime novelists is creating a new market niche in India. The new Indian sleuth, coming out from behind the curtains, is feminine, savvy - and tough. (13.11.2012) 

Novel explores Germany's personal take on Israel

Sarah Diehl is a writer, documentary filmmaker and activist. She spoke to DW about her first novel, "Eskimo Limon 9," which tells the story of an Israeli family that moves to a provincial German town. (12.11.2012) 

The books on Germany's nightstands

Sex and crime always sell, especially when it comes to paperbacks. Publishers also bank on cooking and advice. But in the country of philosophers and thinkers, some German readers still buy intellectual titles as well. (10.10.2012) 

'Cloud Atlas' author talks revenge and opera

DW caught up with Brit literary star David Mitchell at the lit.Cologne festival where he talked about the pan-European roots of his writing, finding himself on the big screen and what to expect from his upcoming opera. (12.03.2013) 

'Wild guy' writer from China in 'loony' Germany

In Germany, Chinese dissidents can live and work freely. For author Ye Fu, that means he can spend a pleasant enough fellowship year in Cologne. However, true happiness lies elsewhere for him. (07.03.2013) 

Anne Frank translator: Past remains important

Author Mirjam Pressler, known for her work on Anne Frank's diaries, tells DW why books about difficult childhoods need to be read and why she became a translator. (03.03.2013) 

Writer tells her story in 'Pakistani Salad'

Pakistani-German novelist Sarah Khan has already written three novels and is currently in Pakistan, researching for her next one. She spoke to DW about her current hometown Berlin and her Pakistani background. (25.02.2013) 

Inside the maze of Wagner literature

In honor of the Wagner bicentennial in 2013, German publishers are going all out when it comes to the Romantic-era composer. DW's Anastassia Boutsko takes a stab at an overview of this year's issues and reissues. (21.02.2013) 

Prolific children's author Otfried Preussler dies

One of Germany's most celebrated children's authors has died. Otfried Preussler wrote dozens of books over half a century, among them international hit Robber Hotzenplotz, which was published in more than 50 languages. (20.02.2013) 

A literature festival at the heart of a troubled city

The organizers of Karachi Literature Festival say that they have been successful in showing the 'progressive' and 'educated' side of Pakistan to the world. (18.02.2013) 

Legal battle threatens cultural institution

Although a Frankfurt court has deferred a much-anticipated legal decision on the Suhrkamp publishing company, the question remains: How can such a cultural institution continue to survive in a changing market? (14.02.2013) 

Hitler satire a controversial but unoriginal hit

A novel about Hitler coming back from the dead in modern Berlin is a runaway German bestseller. But opinion is split as to whether the latest comic take on the Führer is politically acceptable - or even vaguely funny. (04.02.2013) 

Big names from the past

Nietzsche - alive and well in the age of Twitter

One of the latest Twitter phenomena is publishing posthumous tweets from famous personalities beyond the grave. So far, so good. But why exactly is the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche proving to be such a hit? (26.12.2012) 

The Brothers Grimm: Freaks or visionaries?

The Brothers Grimm not only collected fairytales but also researched the German language and laid the foundations for modern-day German literature studies. Their ambition alienated them from many contemporaries. (20.12.2012) 

Thomas Mann's second home in Manhattan

Fleeing the Nazi regime, German author Thomas Mann found it difficult to adapt to life in the US. But in New York he felt at home in Hotel Bedford and made a new start with the help of influential social contacts. (29.08.2012) 

Kurt Tucholsky - enigmatic author and satirist

He was one of the most significant journalists of his time: a satirist, a cabaret writer, a socialist and pacifist. And because he wrote so much, he used a host of pseudonyms. Kurt Tucholsky was a truly enigmatic figure. (20.08.2012) 

Hermann Hesse - misunderstood but loved

Half a century after his death, the works of Nobel Prize-winning author Hermann Hesse are back on the shelves. He's one of the most popular German authors in the world - even though he'd long been written off. (09.08.2012) 

Meaningful pictures

Belgium tries to revive its comic strip scene

After once being a powerhouse in comic strip production, Belgium has lost ground to other countries. But the famous birthplace of Tintin, the Smurfs and Lucky Luke is trying to make a come-back by supporting its artists. (02.10.2012) 

Picture books jog memory for dementia patients

A picture book evokes strong memories in elderly Germans with dementia. For the author and illustrator, taking patients from the Weimar Republic to the 1960s was a challenge particular to Germany. (02.10.2012) 

Berlin's burgeoning graphic novel scene

Germany has a thriving comic and graphic novel community, and its center is Berlin. DW’s Jane Paulick steps into the world of sequential art. (13.02.2013) 

Awards

Mo Yan - the great Chinese storyteller

Chinese author Mo Yan will receive the Nobel Prize for Literature on Monday, December 10. His works have been inspired by stories from his home village and are not only praised but criticized as well. (07.12.2012) 

Chronicler of downtrodden accepts book prize

Liao Yiwu has accepted the 2012 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade. The author, now residing in Berlin, sheds light on China's dark side and gives a voice to those left behind by the country's rapid economic rise. (14.10.2012) 

Interview: 'Mo Yan bores me to death'

The Chinese writer Mo Yan has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. DW spoke to Dr. Wolfgang Kubin, Professor of Sinology at Bonn University, shortly after the Nobel Committee made its announcement. (12.10.2012) 

China's literature prizewinner divides opinion

China's Nobel Prize winner for literature Mo Yan has won over both Western and Chinese audiences. But while some say he works cleverly within the rules, others claim he is too close to the country's rulers. (11.10.2012) 

Europe invented 'gypsies,' says German author

Discrimination against Sinti and Roma began as a way for Europeans to assert their modernity: Klaus-Michael Bogdal asserts this thesis in his latest book, which has won him a prestigious prize at the Leipzig Book Fair. (13.03.2013) 

Screen or paper

Digital revolution hot topic at Book Fair

Some experts already see the end of printed books as the digital revolution has thrown everything into question. But opinions on the future of books remain divided. They'll be hotly debated at the Frankfurt Book Fair. (09.10.2012) 

Digital books too much for analogue souls

One of the hot-button issues at this year's Frankfurt Book Fair is whether e-books are inevitable. DW's Jefferson Chase examines the undeniable advantages and potential perils of going digital. (12.10.2012) 

E-books are tracking your reading habits

More and more people are reading e-books - most of them on the train or the bus. But few readers realize that e-book providers know more about them than they think. (07.11.2012) 

Audios and videos on the topic

J.K.'s writing career after Harry Potter

Literary jewels

Felicitas Hoppe wins Büchner Prize

Director and novelist Oskar Roehler in interview

Culture and Music on Radio

Pulse

A half-hour take of youth and lifestyle topics 

Concert Hour

Live recordings from Germany's concert scene 
German Pop Podcast series

New music up close and personal on German Pop

Ask people what German bands they've heard of, and they're likely to say Rammstein or Kraftwerk. But Germany's pop landscape is diverse with a lot to discover. DW presents concerts and portraits in this monthly podcast.

Video

Radar

Each week our Arts.21 reporters scour Germany's cultural scene and present you with a selection of their best finds.

Radar | The winners of the European Architecture Photography Prize 2013