The Literary Autumn in Leipzig has added new offerings for children, young people and families to its festival program. In cooperation with the Theater der Jungen Welt, the "Young Autumn" will feature various readings, as well as music, said organizer Nils Kahlefendt. The organization of the literature festival (Oct. 23-29) was overshadowed this year, however, by controversy over a planned appearance by Alice Schwarzer.
The 80-year-old publicist Schwarzer is expected to speak about her life and autobiography at the Leipzig Public Library on Oct. 25. Primarily because of statements by the feminist on trans issues, one of the festival organizers, the managing director of the Leipzig Literature Institute Jörn Dege, and two program partners have withdrawn from this year's Literary Autumn.
The rest of the festival team stands by Schwarzer's appearance, Kahlefendt said. In a statement posted online, it said, "There is a broad public interest in Alice Schwarzer; as a festival that not only wants to reflect the aesthetic and political convictions of its organizing team, we want our events to be relevant to broad segments of urban society."
A total of about 30 events are on the Literarischer Herbst program. Among others, Daniel Kehlmann will read from "Lichtspiel," Angelika Klüssendorf will present "Risse," and at an "Evening for Wolfgang Herrndorf," his biographer Tobias Rüther and his close friend, playwright Robert Koall, will meet for a discussion.
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