The German author, literary critic, and journalist Uwe Wittstock has gained recognition for combining meticulous historical research with a literary style that uses a dramatic, novel-like tone, in his non-fictional narratives. Wittstock is particularly interested in cultural and literary resistance, authorship under political pressure, and what happens to intellectuals in times of crisis.
His descriptions of historical events have strong connections to today’s moral and democratic dilemmas. In the books February 33: The Winter of Literature and Marseille 1940: The Flight of German Literature, Wittstock illustrates how the Nazis’ ascension to power in Germany radically changed the conditions for intellectuals and authors, many of whom were forced into exile. These books became bestsellers and have attracted considerable attention for offering both detailed facts and individual stories about persecution, resistance, and the threat that totalitarianism poses to cultural heritage.
Here, Uwe Wittstock will also give a brief lecture on how literature can mobilize readers against contemporary authoritarian movements. Wittstock will also be in conversation with DN’s cultural editor Björn Wiman at Uppsala City Library on Saturday 21 March at 12:15.
Date och time: Friday 20 March, 17.00–17.15
Place: Humanistic Theatre
Language: English
Tickets, 80 kr via www.tickster.com