Encouraging Anglophone Readers to Broaden Their Literary Horizons by Exploring German Literature

In the literary world, a new wave of authors is making their mark in Germany, challenging the status quo and offering fresh perspectives. Mithu Sanyal, Jackie Thomae, Senthuran Varatharajah, and others are exploring themes of race and migration in unique ways, adding a much-needed diversity to the German literary scene.

The disdain for Germany's book scene seems to be coming at a time when anglophone literature could use a little shaking up. Uljana Wolf and Isabel Fargo Cole, writer-translators based in Germany, are producing fascinating work at the interstices of language, adding an international flavour to the German literary landscape.

Despite his overall negative assessment of German literature, the editor of prestigious British literature magazine Granta, based in Berlin, unexpectedly stated that we are in a golden age of German-to-English translation. However, he expressed concerns about the state of German literature, referring to it as "literary lassitude" and "lack of literary ambition."

If you're looking to dive into German literature, there are several resources to help you get started. The websites 54books, Volltext, and Katy Derbyshire's 'Love German Books' are great places to begin. Subscribing to magazines like Sinn und Form and Delfi can also provide regular updates on the latest works.

Judith Schalansky's Naturkunden series at Matthes & Seitz is highly regarded in Germany's literary scene, and authors such as Esther Kinsky, Daniela Danz, and Judith Schalansky are notable figures in the field of 'nature writing' in German literature.

Berlin's booksellers are noted for their extensive knowledge and training, making them a valuable resource for book recommendations. Listening to regional and national books radio and following critics such as Ulrich Rüdenauer, Wiebke Porombka, and Johannes Franzen are also ways to engage with German literature.

'Post-memorial' literature has brought fresh perspectives to the treatment of Germany's 20th-century history. Important currently active German authors who have not yet published in English include several nominees of the 2025 German Book Prize longlist such as Kathrin Bach, Marko Dinić, Nava Ebrahimi, Dorothee Elmiger, and Kaleb Erdmann. Additionally, authors like Tanja Dückers, known for socio-political themes, and Natalka Sniadanko, an exiled Ukrainian-born author active in Germany, have published extensively in German but not exclusively in English.

Ruth Rehmann, Brigitte Reimann, Grete Weil, and Helen Wolff have recently enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in Germany. Contemporary German authors who have not been majorly published in English include Aras Ören, Jan Faktor, Dilek Güngör, Iris Wolff, and Elke Erb.

The old saying "if you're bored, then you're boring" could be applied to the dismissal of German literature by some, including the editor of Granta. The editor also claimed that there is a lack of critical press in German literature, although this might be questionable given the UK's own media landscape.

In conclusion, the German literary world is a vibrant and exciting place, offering a wealth of new perspectives and voices. Whether you're a seasoned reader or just starting out, there's something for everyone in the world of German literature. So, why not take a chance and explore the rich offerings of this fascinating literary scene?

Encouraging Anglophone Readers to Broaden Their Literary Horizons by Exploring German Literature