Black German-language fiction has a long tradition that has come alive in many movements. From early works of fiction, such as the first novel by Black author Dualla Misipo at the end of the Weimar Republic, to current titles.⁠ ⁠ With "Resonanzen - Schwarzes Literaturfestival", a three-day festival took place in May 2022 that provided impulses for rethinking, reimagining and further developing perspectives and experiences within the German-language literary scene. The publication accompanying the festival presents the short stories of the six invited authors, traces the discussions of the jury and shows the diverse traditions, influences and references of authors of the African diaspora in Germany.⁠ Buy

Heading to Venice for the Biennale Arte? Let this book invite you to discover the other Venice. The one where your footsteps echo through the empty alleys, rhythmically refracted by glistening light.⁠ ⁠ Venice Unclocked is a beautiful, joint publication by writer Rachel Spence and photographer Giacomo Cosua. It is a wonderful ensemble of small written impressions and photographs from the perspective of a native Venetian. Together, text and images present an unexpected impression of the city, a calming personal vision away from the hustle and bustle of visitors. Buy

Have you ever heard of Concrete Poetry - a poetic movement that emerged in the early 1950s and sought to create a universal form of poetry that could be described as a mixture of poetry, art and graphic design? The basic principle of the movement is the idea that words are material. The Concrete Poets used words not primarily for their semantic qualities, but as constitutive elements. Through the relationship between the written text and its spatial arrangement on the page, they gave their poems another level of meaning. Their works led to a new kind of verse that abandoned the linear structure of poetry and resulted in a new form of poetry that could be read and looked at.⁠ ⁠ Bolivian-born Swiss poet, writer and publisher Eugen Gomringer is often described as the father of concrete poetry. From 1953 onwards, together with Dieter Roth and Marcel Wyss, Gomringer co-published the artist’s magazine spirale, that formed the starting point for his form of poetry. From an early stage, Gomringer wanted to blur the boundaries of poetry and the language of advertising. This publication combines original images and selected works from Gomringer’s long-standing collaborations as art director and copy-writer for various companies. It also contains the theoretical essay “vom vers zur konstellation” (from verse to constellation), Gomringer’s original manifesto published in 1954.
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We love Cat Hepburn's unashamed and hilarious writing! It screams with authenticity and makes her observations on Millennial culture palpable. From regrettable one-night stands to "ghosting" - no stone is left unturned. Illuminating the nuances of human relationships and interactions in a world of digital dating and sexual exploration, Dating & Other Hobbies is a unique celebration of early adulthood and all the beautiful mess it brings. Buy

Poetry Jazz is a popular art form from Addis Ababa, bringing together poetry, language and sound experiments. With the help of "wax and gold", a lyrical form of expression, the superficial, literally understood layer of "wax" conceals a often encrypted critique as a core of "gold". The book documents six poetry concerts, which took place alternately in Addis Ababa and Berlin and gives voice to the artists in Amharic, English and German. It offers a glance behind-the-scenes at a compelling and resistant practice that addresses questions of importance across continents and suggests subversive methods to challenge threats to the freedom of expression.⁠ Buy

The easiest way to get right to the bottom of things is - naturally - playing ‚Truth and Dare‘. So let’s start with bare facts. You think poetry is rather dusty, quixotic or charming as moulded grey bread? No worries, you don’t have to say your answer out loud. Frankly, we (almost) all have been there. But we have to break it to you: The natural evolution of the lyrical section on our shelves almost clandestinely multiplied itself over the last few years. And this is not the only thing to say about this art form currently experiencing a fulminant renaissance. The revival of poems comes along fresh, colorful, innovative and - definitely worth to mention - the fellows who are falling for lyrical rhythms, getting lost in-between the lines are as vivid and young as their thrilled audience. And still, as Poetry Magazine (launched in 1912!) names the elephant in the room already within its title: Who reads poetry? We thought it would be a smart move to choose ‚Dare‘ and asked one of the most dazzling voices of this new poetry wave and the co-editor of Pain Magazine: Vala Thorodds. More