Christa Wolf is world literature. Her books have been translated into more than 40 languages. From the beginning, many of her works have been polarizing. They were read differently in the East and the West, and new interpretations continue to emerge today. Wolf’s autobiographical writing is driven by critical self-examination and seeks to address personal and social responsibility. Actress Petra Hartung reads excerpts from »Kindheitsmuster« (1976), one of the most important novels in GDR literature about the Nazi era, and from the moving, posthumously published story »August« (2012), which tells of childhood during war, loss and gratitude. The reading will be followed by a conversation with Italian translator Anita Raja, who will be awarded the Goethe Medal this year for her services to the work of Christa Wolf and other German literature.

Also: On August 25 at 7:00 p.m., there will be an open Christa Wolf reading at LiteraturEtage (Eckermann Bookstore). Anyone interested is warmly invited to stop by with their favorite Christa Wolf book in hand, read a passage aloud, or simply listen.