On Sunday 24 November the European Literature Days 2019 drew to a close with a literary and musical matinée and the presentation of the Austrian Book Trade Honorary Award for Tolerance in Thought and Action to the Italian writer Francesca Melandri. Four intensive days, packed with first-rate literature and an ambitious line-up of international writers who shared their opinions on the theme “What is a good life?” – intensive, thought-provoking and illuminating debate buoyed up by an atmosphere of fascination and pleasure in joining in this European get together.
The European Literature Days 2019 were held for the first year for the duration of the festival in Krems an der Donau. The Klangraum Krems Minoritenkirche was a particularly welcoming venue; the visits to the State Gallery and the Kunsthalle were enriching and the guided walking tour of Stein proved to be another highlight. The European Literature Days have arrived on the Kunstmeile Krems!
“What is a good life?” was the headline theme for all the readings and conversations with writers. The text on this theme by the Palestinian-Swedish poet Ghayath Almadhoun was commissioned for the European Literature Days – it is now available to browse along with the daily Bulletin by the Austrian writer, poetry slammer and musician Elias Hirschl.
The dialogues on What is a good life? were recorded on film and will be broadcast as one-hour films on Okto.TV from 9 to 15 December 2019. The short films will then be available to view via the media library.
