Literature and Translation

From the German Bookshelves

From the German Bookshelves illuminates the rich tapestry of contemporary German literature, uncovering the voices of a new generation of authors, their narratives transcending linguistic boundaries, thoughtfully translated for a global audience.

From the German Bookshelves © Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan

Projects

Queer Caravan

Queer Caravan is a collaborative initiative by Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, the French Institute in India, and The Queer Muslim Project, supported by the German-French cultural fund. This unique residency program brings together queer storytellers and artists from France, Germany, and India to amplify underrepresented LGBTQIA+ voices.
Being Kafka

Why does Franz Kafka’s spell remain unbroken a hundred years after his death? Is it his exquisite letters, our affection for dramatic tales, or the sense that our contemporary world has never been more Kafkaesque? The centenary of Franz Kafka's death presents a chance to delve into innovative approaches to understanding the author and his captivating oeuvre.

© Goethe-Institut, Illustration: Roberto Maján
300 Years of Kant

Kant’s work is considered to be the pinnacle of Enlightenment philosophy. The philosopher was born in Königsberg in 1724. His maxim that we should use our reason seems more relevant and pressing today than ever before. What lessons can we learn from Kant? Where did Kant fail in his endeavours? What are the abysses and darker sides of the Enlightenment? This is what our Kant special is all about.

Illustration by Antje Herzog
The German Language Column

Our column delves into navigating German language rules, tracing the origins of new words, and highlighting significant language usage shifts, offering insights into these engaging linguistic discussions.

© Goethe-Institut e. V./Illustration: Tobias Schrank
200th Birth Anniversary
Max Mueller Bicentennial

Friedrich Max Mueller, philologist and scholar, would have turned 200 in December 2023. As namesake of the Goethe-Instituts in India, his bicentennial serves as an occasion not just to remember but to revisit his renown, while critically engaging with the complexity of his contributions. This dossier goes beyond tribute to delve into Max Mueller’s historical role, influence and relevance within contemporary India.

© Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan
The Infinite Library

The Infinite Library is a travelling installation that uses VR and other media to reimagine the future of libraries as interactive spaces that engage visitors through multisensory forms of storytelling.

© Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan
Literary translation
The German List

Seagull’s German List which is supported by the Goethe-Institut since 2009 now comprises more than 90 translations of formidable works of contemporary German literature by distinguished authors and laureates such as Max Frisch, Theodor W. Adorno, Thomas Bernhard, Hans Magnus Enzensberger and Ulrich Peltzer.

Illustration: Tobias Schrank, Goethe-Institut
Boarding!
Graphic Travelogues

Join us on this special journey and immerse yourself in new worlds: Graphic Travelogues presents travel experiences by comic artists from different countries. From sketches to graphic novels, graphic diaries and travel drawings - discover with us the treasures we collect here.

Graphik: Dominik Wendland © Goethe-Institut New Delhi
Hermann Hesse: 100 years of Siddhartha
The Sound of Faraway Lands

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of "Siddhartha", the Goethe-Instituts in South Asia are exploring the ways South Asia and Germany are received by one another – in literature, music, film and everyday culture.

Filmstill from "Vagabunden Karawane" © Werner Penzel Filmproduktion itd.
Poets Translating Poets

Poetry mirrors society, this project features some of the most renowned poets from South Asia who deal with identity, gender concerns, multiculturalism and diversity through their work.

© Goethe-Institut Mumbai
Cherrypicker suggests
Read and listen

The "Cherrypicker" blog presents selected novels and non-fiction books, graphic novels and stories, audio books and music CDs from the wealth of new German-language publications. Every week a new recommendation, every week an opportunity to discover outstanding texts, images and voices.

© Goethe-Institut / Illustration: Tobias Schrank
Contemporary Drama In Translation

Contemporary German-language drama is characterized by enormous variety. This project is about translating some of them in six South Asian languages – Bangla, Hindi, Marathi, Sinhalese, Tamil, and Urdu.

©Sapan Saran

Articles

Five German fairy tales
And they lived happily ever after

Once upon a time – there was an ancient text form that can be found in all cultures. These fantastic stories were so important that they were even recognised as intangible cultural heritage in Germany in 2016. About five German fairy tales that still live on our bookshelves today.

Foto (Detail): © picture alliance / Geisler-Fotopress | Christoph Hardt/Geisler-Fotopress
German Book Prize 2024
Martina Hefter wins the German Book Prize

There was a festive atmosphere in the Kaisersaal of Frankfurt's Römer when the six finalists were presented. The tension grew until it was finally announced that Martina Hefter would receive the German Book Prize 2024.

Photo (detail): © picture alliance/dpa | Andreas Arnold
Interview with Teresa Ciuffoletti
The whole world is one village

Teresa Ciuffoletti has translated works by Judith Hermann, Dörte Hansen and Fatma Aydemir into Italian. In this interview, she explains why she doesn't use translation tools, what North Friesland and Tuscany have in common and which book she would like to translate one day.

© picture alliance / imageBROKER | Hans-Werner Rodrian