Reading Lutz Rathenow

Lutz Rathenow will be reading from "Trotzig lächeln und das Weltall streicheln" on Friday, 31 March 2023, 7 p.m. at the Radebeuler Kultur-Bahnhof, Sidonienstraße 1c.

Just in time for his 70th birthday, the well-known GDR opposition activist presents his literary biography. From early childhood to high political office, Rathenow tells of a life between art and politics. Sometimes magical, sometimes realistic, always loving. School, family, first jealousy. Janis Joplin, Mikhail Gorbachev, Harald Hauswald. The fall of communism, the cinema, the ants in the garden. - Lutz Rathenow's life is a colourful kaleidoscope of stories, dialogues, reports and diary entries. His view of racist resentments, unresolved GDR imprints, disappointed Western projections and their denial in everyday life is sharp. His memories of companions are friendly, sceptical and intimate. His strong heroines are just as astonishing as the rapid changes of location between Jena, Berlin and Montevideo.

Lutz Rathenow, born in Jena in 1952, is a poet, children's book author, satirist, prose writer, essayist and editor. Studied German/History at the University of Jena. Expelled from university in 1977 for political reasons, moved to East Berlin. Literary work and search for ways into the public eye. 1980 Arrest and three-month investigation for the first book published only in the West "The worst was already expected" Rathenow did not accept offers to leave the country, he actively promoted the peaceful revolution of 1989 in the civil rights movement. From 2011 to 2021, he was the Saxon State Commissioner for Stasi Records in Dresden. Numerous publications in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Translations in Sweden, France, USA and Croatia.

The reading with Lutz Rathenow is the highlight of the supporting programme for the exhibition "Leseland DDR", an interesting journey through time into a very special chapter of GDR history, which can be seen at the Radebeul Kultur-Bahnhof until 2 April 2023.

Admission is free.

The event is organised by the city of Radebeul with the support of the Saxon State Commissioner for the Reappraisal of the SED Dictatorship.