Goethe's Divan

GOETHE'S DIVAN
Nino Haratischwili in conversation with two of her translators: Barbara Fontaine and Maia Panjikidze

With "The Absent Light" (FVA), Nino Haratischwili has created a novel that resonates far beyond the German-speaking world. The numerous translations demonstrate the vital role translation support plays in cultural exchange.

How does a story transform when it is recreated in another language? What specific challenges did the translators face? And what does the global reception of a book reveal about the themes that unite us?
On the occasion of its 75th anniversary, the Goethe-Institut invites authors to conversations with their translators. In Hamburg, Nino Haratischwili meets with Barbara Fontaine and Maia Panjikidze.

Barbara Fontaine, a multiple award winner, translates from German into French. She has served as a mentor and led workshops. Maia Panjikidze, a professor in Tbilisi, Georgia, translates from German and English into Georgian and vice versa; alongside her academic work, she has worked as a diplomat.
Passages read in three languages and a conversation about the poetic, political, and emotional layers of the text create a space where international perspectives on contemporary German literature become visible.

Moderation: Ingo Herzke

In cooperation with the Goethe-Institut and the Network of Literary Houses