Europa literarisch: Gonçalo M. Tavares by EUNIC Cluster Berlin, 12 June 2012

The next event in Europa literarisch series will present the Portuguese author Gonçalo M. Tavares, who is going to read from his recently published novel Jerusalém (in German Die Versehrten) translated into German by Marianne Gareis. The author will discuss his text, which examines the fine border between reason and insanity, with Thomas Wohlfahrt.
 
It is the night of 29 May. Four people are wandering in the darkness. A secret force seems to drive them towards one another. Theodor Busbeck, doctor and historian, is obsessed with the idea that evil follows an inner logic. He works on the corresponding formula. His ex-wife Mylia struggles with her terminal illness; Ernst Spengler, her former lover, is looking for death, and Hinnerk Obst is afraid of going outside. He is after all suspected of committing a murder. The night gives rise to a fascinating encounter.
 
The tone is brusque, the story unsettling. Jerusalém is at the same time a breathtakingly gripping tragedy and a parable of the 20th century, “a multi-layered and moving drama about alienation in today’s world” (Alberto Manguel).
 
Gonçalo M. Tavares, born in 1970 in Luanda, Angola, grew up in Portugal. He is one of the most significant Portuguese authors of his generation. For Jerusalém he was awarded the highly-coveted José Saramago Prize for authors under 35.
 
The evening will be chaired by Dr Thomas Wohlfahrt, head of the Literaturwerkstatt Berlin, and takes place in cooperation with the Representation of the European Commission in Germany. We are grateful to the Hotel Novotel Berlin-Mitte for their support of Europa literarisch.
 
12 June 2012, 18:00-20:45 hrs │ Europäisches Haus, Representation of the European Commission in Germany │Unter den Linden 78 (First Floor), 10117 Berlin
 
We would be delighted to welcome you to the event. Please register by  8 June via the following website of the European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/deutschland/termine/20120612_europa_literarisch_portugal_de.htm  
 
Due to increased security regulations participants will only be admitted if they have registered in advance via the link above. Please bring a picture ID with you.