Literature days
7th European Literature Days: New book releases in Vietnamese

Nine German books in Vietnamese translation: readings, discussions, musical presentations and films

Opening | 6.5.2017, 9 AM
Literature days | 6. - 14.5.2017
Goethe-Institut Hanoi

For the seventh time, the European Literature Days in Hanoi invite you to lose yourself in the discovery of books. For the second time the festival also takes place in Ho Chi Minh City. The lively literary festival, with contributions from eight European countries, is rich in events for book lovers of all ages, offering entertaining lectures, book presentations, workshops, discussions, exhibitions and films.

Since 2011 the literary festival has been organized annually by EUNIC, the Association of European Cultural Institutions, together with European embassies. The fact that the festival is growing and prospering and, first in 2016 and now for the second time extends to Ho Chi Minh City, indicates a keen interest in European literature in Vietnam. This year, too, there will be more books, more activities and more opportunities to get to know the literature, lifestyles and cultures of Europe. A wide range of books from Denmark, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Great Britain and Sweden offer reading pleasure for everyone.

The participating countries will open Literature Days on 6 May by at the Goethe-Institut Hanoi. The first three contributions from Germany are from the well-known book series “Was Ist Was” (What Is What). “Rico, Oscar and the Mysterious Stone”, so popular among children, we present as both book and film (with Vietnamese dubbing).

Vietnam has a proud lyrical tradition that incorporates our presentation of German lyric poetry. Jan Wagner reads from his “Regentonnenvariationen” (Rain Barrel Improvisations), and the music ensemble Dong Kinh Co Nhac interprets his poetry through various traditional Vietnamese lyric theatrical forms. Bernd Schlink’s novel “Die Frau auf der Treppe” (The Woman on the Stairs) is presented by his translator – and possibly via an Internet connection with the author. Further highlights of our program are a new translation of Franz Kafka's “America (the Lost)”; the first edition of the popular comic classic “Father and Son” by E. O. Plauen; and a discussion on the occasion of the new release of Richard David Precht's “Anna, the School and the dear Lord”.

The events related to German literature in Hanoi will be held at the Goethe Institute. In Ho Chi Minh City, the festival takes place in IDECAF, in the Library of General Sciences, in Sa Lon Van Hoa Cafe thu bay, and in the bookseller’s street Nguyen Van Binh.

Venues in Hanoi

• Goethe-Institut, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Ba Dinh
• L’Espace, 24 Trang Tien, Hoan Kiem
• Casa Italia, so 1 Le Phung Hieu, Hoan Kiem
• Book street Hanoi, 19-thang-12 Str, Hoan Kiem