Karl May and the future: Congress in Rostock highlights his legacy!

Karl May and the future: Congress in Rostock highlights his legacy!

The city of Rostock will be the center of Karl May research from October 2nd to 5th, 2023. The Karl May Society congress takes place at the University of Rostock, where everything revolves around the well-known writer and his works. This congress is a welcome return of Karl May to the Hanseatic city, where his famous production “Winnetou” premiered in the old Rostock City Theater in 1930. The event attracts scientists, readers and Karl May enthusiasts from all over the world.

The Karl May Society initiated the congress to promote a critical examination of May's work. Particularly in view of the “Winnetou debate” of 2022, the aim is to advance reception history and biographical research. Dr. Stephan Lesker, who works at the Institute for German Studies at the University of Rostock, expressed his optimism and is looking forward to the international exchange and the many upcoming discussions.

A varied program

The congress will offer a diverse program consisting of lectures, readings and discourses. The auditorium of the University of Rostock will be the venue for these events, which are open to the public and free of charge. A highlight of the congress is the lecture by the writer Clemens Meyer, who will talk about the importance of Karl May on October 5th. Meyer is one of the renowned voices who critically and deeply examine May's work.

The last meeting of this kind took place in 2021 and the congress is now organized every two years, with the participation of up to 200 people. The focus is on exchanging opinions and ideas about Karl May. In addition to the scientific contributions, there will also be space for informal conversations and personal encounters.

Research and editorial progress

In addition to the preparation of the congress, the completion of the editorial report for Volume IV.5 of the HKA, “Through the Land of the Skipetars”, is lagging behind. The publication probably had to be postponed to early 2026. This means that the final volume of the oriental novel could not appear until mid-2026. Those interested are still invited to participate in the planned volume I.6 “Pandur and Grenadier”. This volume will contain the incompletely preserved Dessauer humoresques by Karl May.

The two stories “A Prince-Marshal as a Baker” and “Pandur and Grenadier” are preserved both in the 1882 and 1883 volumes of the “Deutsche Gewerbeschau” and in complete versions after the First World War, but have been edited and therefore cannot be used for the HKA. We are currently looking for clues to locations of the missing years that are not generally known, as well as reprints of the stories in other magazines.

The central event in Rostock is not only a homage to Karl May, but also a platform to examine the cultural significance of his work in the context of current debates. The congress promises a valuable opportunity for an in-depth exchange between experts and fans alike.

For further information, those interested can contact the Institute for German Studies, Dr. Stephan Lesker, on +49 381 498 2566.