Reading & Discussion
MEET THE AUTHOR: NORRIS VON SCHIRACH

International Online Book Club

Tue, 19.09.2023
6:00 PM - 19:30

Online

In September we are delighted to welcome Norris von Schirach to our international book club, to present his book Beutezeit (Time of Prey). The event will be chaired by Joachim Umlauf, director of Goethe-Institut Bucharest.

When Vladimir Putin becomes president in 2000, Anton, who has become rich through trading, hastily leaves Moscow. Behind him are eight breathless years in the predatory capitalism of post-soviet Russia; before him lies yawning boredom in New York’s well-heeled society. But even at 40, Anton is still an incorrigible romantic, and he’s on the search for the next kick. Then a headhunter makes him a tempting offer. Anton is to set up a steel company in Kazakhstan, a land rich in natural resources, with money from anonymous sources. The German embarks on the adventure and learns the hard way how local clans and insatiable elites are ruthlessly defending the loot they scooped up after the fall of the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, Anton finds allies and concludes a pact with momentous consequences.

Everyone is welcome to join this live online event – there is no requirement to read the book beforehand. Participation is free, and the discussion takes place in German.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Norris von Schirach, born in Munich in 1963, worked in London and New York after graduating from high school and completing commercial training. After graduating, he lived in Moscow from 1993 to 2003. There he experienced the euphoria and frustration of the Yeltsin years, when the border between organised crime and state institutions was blurred, with large parts of the population becoming impoverished. Norris von Schirach has a son and has settled in Romania after living in Kazakhstan and Australia. His first novel Blasse Helden (Pale Heroes) was published in 2018, initially under the pseudonym Arthur Isarin.

WHO CAN TAKE PART?

Everyone who wants to read and discover German literature, meet authors and share their reading experience with others - even if you haven't read the book yet. The book club will be held in German. All participants should have sufficient language skills to read and discuss in German.

REGISTRATION

Register here You will then receive a link to the online live session.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

We will use Zoom for our meeting. We recommend using a headset, as speakers can create distracting echo effects. Participation is possible from PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device. To participate, simply follow the link we will send you after registration and sign in to the room.