Judith Hermann: Reading by the master of short prose in Kassel!

Judith Hermann: Reading by the master of short prose in Kassel!

Judith Hermann, born in 1970, will take over the Grimm Poetry Professorship at the University of Kassel in the summer semester of 2025. Her appointment is an honor for one of the most influential voices in contemporary German-language literature. Hermann made his debut in 1998 with the highly acclaimed volume of short stories “Summer House Later,” which sold over 250,000 copies and was translated into 17 different languages. This story cemented her reputation and established her as a master of short prose forms.

The author has published a total of four volumes of short stories, including “Nothing but Ghosts” (2003), “Alice” (2009) and “Lettipark” (2016). She also wrote the novels “All Love Begins” (2014) and “Daheim” (2021). Their thematic range extends from relationship constellations to existential experiences with illness and dying to the often painful way of dealing with death. Prof. Dr. Stefanie Kreuzer describes Hermann's writing style as sensual and poetic, thereby highlighting the special quality of her texts.

Public events as part of the poetry professorship

As part of her new position, several public events will take place. On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, Hermann will give a poetry lecture in the Campus Center, followed by a poetry seminar on Thursday, June 26, which is open exclusively to Kassel students. A public reading will take place on the same day, starting at 6 p.m.

The Grimm Poetry Professorship, which has been awarded by the University of Kassel since 1985 and is currently sponsored by the Kasseler Sparkasse, has produced a large number of well-known prize winners in the past. These include Herta Müller (1998), Volker Schlöndorff (2011), Felicitas Hoppe (2019) and Terézia Mora (2021). This series of awards reflects artistic processes and the work of important literary figures.

A look at the literary scene

The anticipation of Judith Hermann's professorship is supported by a lively literary scene in Kassel. After a period of silence, Bolker Street has reached its pre-pandemic level of activity. The Müller & Böhm literary store recently celebrated a sold-out evening with a famous author, who was introduced by Marcel Reich-Ranicki. The bookstore was well filled, and the rush of visitors demonstrated a lively interest in literature.

A final look at Hermann's success shows that her works have not only been translated into numerous languages, but have also been adapted into films. For example, her stories “Tompson Music” (2004) and “Nothing but Ghosts” (2007) were brought to the big screen. Hermann is not only a sought-after author on the pages of books, but also in the film representation of her stories.

It remains to be seen how Hermann's role at the University of Kassel and in the literary world will develop, but her extensive experience and great interest in her work lay the foundation for exciting and enriching events and discussions. uni-kassel.de reports that several of her stories have left an impression far beyond German-language literature.

rp-online.de adds that Judith Hermann repeatedly addresses the mysticism and challenges of writing in her works, thereby fascinating both readers and critics alike.