2025-04-08

Celebrating Norwegian Non-Fiction during the Leipziger Buchmesse

On Sunday March, 30th, the last day of the Leipziger Bucmhesse, a large crowd of knowledge-hungry visitors braved the rain and lined up outside as the doors of Schaubühne Lindenfels, the Norwegian Hub during the book fair, opened. In fact, attendance was so high that the event had to be moved from the small 60-seat hall to the main auditorium—even though not all of the books that were presented are yet available in German.

Top row from the left: Ivo de Figueiredo with Daniela Stilzebach, Marta Breen with Ebba D. Drolshagen, and Andreas Donat with Linn Stalsberg. Bottom row from the left: Christel Hildebrandt with Kristin Valla, and Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson with Nann Moldskred. Photos: Schaubühne Lindenfels, NORLA

This was a fantastic conclusion to some incredible days at Schaubühne Lindenfels — and to the entire Norwegian Guest of Honour program. A huge thank you to the authors, translators, moderators, and to the staff at Lindenfels!

The program featured:

Ivo de Figueiredo presented his major Edvard Munch biography Stormen (English working title: The Storm) in conversation with Daniela Stilzebach. Der Sturm will soon be available in German, translated by Daniela.

Marta Breen discussed Kvinner i kamp (Rebellische Frauen, also available in English as Women in Battle) with Ebba D. Drolshagen.

Linn Stalsberg spoke about her book Krig er forakt for liv (English working title: War is contempt for life), which will be published in German in September, in a conversation with translator Andreas Donat.

Kristin Valla shared insights into the fascinating life and tragic death of Dagny Juel, as described in her book Skuddene i Tblisi (Die Schüsse von Tiflis), together with translator Christel Hildebrandt.

And finally, Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson captivated the audience by discussing her relationship with the forest and her book Skogen, which has yet to be translated into German. Her conversation partner was Nann Moldskred.

The Sunday program at Schaubühne Lindenfels was a perfect finale of five days of great meetings with the wonderful Leipziger audience!