From 6 to 17/5, authors from Europe will participate in talks, book readings, and literary workshops in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. They will discuss with readers the theme: "From oneself to us: Loneliness and solidarity in European literature".
Experts will delve into: How does loneliness manifest in modern life? How do people react when caught between separation and connection? What role can literature play in mending societal fractures? These issues will be explored through the works and perspectives of European authors, fostering dialogue with Vietnam's cultural context.
Key events of European Literature Days
The organizers stated they chose the theme amidst the strong development of technology and artificial intelligence, which has diminished traditional connections. However, it is precisely during this period that people increasingly need emotional care. This tension becomes a significant source of inspiration in contemporary literature.
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Oliver Brandt - Director of Goethe Hanoi (left) and Pierre Du Ville - Head of the Wallonie-Bruxelles Delegation in Vietnam, President of EUNIC Vietnam, at the press conference introducing "European Literature Days" on the morning of 6/5 in Hanoi. Photo: Organizers provided |
One of the prominent writers appearing is Sasha Marianna Salzmann, from Germany. She was born in Volgograd, Russia, and immigrated to Germany with her family at 10 years old. Salzmann's theatrical works are highly acclaimed internationally and have been translated into more than 20 languages, noted for their unique treatment of universal themes such as memory, identity, and migration experiences. Both her novels, *Beside Myself* (2017) and *Glorious People* (2021), were nominated for the German Book Prize and received the Literaturhäuser Prize and the Hermann-Hesse-Literaturpreis in 2022. Sasha Salzmann also collaborates with numerous German media organizations, curates cultural festivals, and is a long-time resident writer at the Maxim Gorki Theater, Berlin.
Another notable name is Rebecca Watson, a British novelist. Watson's non-fiction works have appeared in *The Guardian*, *Granta*, and *British Vogue*. In 2022, she produced a documentary for BBC Radio 4, showcasing her short stories. She currently lives in London and is a commissioning editor and columnist for *FT Weekend*. The Vietnamese version of her book *Little Scratch* was published by San Ho Books under the title *Xuoc xat*.
Thibault Clemenceau, 37, a French writer who has lived in Vietnam for 12 years, is also participating in the event. His love for nature and passion for long-distance cycling led him on transcontinental journeys. In 2019, he and his wife, Khanh Nguyen, embarked on a 16,000 km journey from France to Vietnam, passing through countries like Iran, India, and Myanmar. The book documenting this trip, *Un Duo Vers l'Inconnu*, received the Rene Caille Prize for outstanding adventure literature. Additionally, readers will have the opportunity to interact with German writer Miku Sophie Kuehmel, 34, and Austrian writer Peter Simon Altmann, 57.
European Literature Days is an annual event of the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC), first organized in 2011. This year, the event is chaired by the Goethe-Institut (Germany), with participation from the British Council, Institut Français, the Italian Embassy, the Austrian Embassy, the Czech Centre in Hanoi, and Wallonie-Bruxelles in Vietnam.
Ha Thu
