Crauss Presents Kadhem Khanjar at the Lunch Lectures in Cologne
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Literature between Lyric, Memory, and Reality
The Lunch Lectures bring literature to the middle of the day: On Wednesday, October 21, 2026, the Interim of the Central Library of Cologne invites you to an intense author encounter with the poet Crauss. The focus is on the Iraqi lyricist Kadhem Khanjar, whose poetic work connects personal memory, political upheaval, and the power of public language.
A Three-Quarter Hour for Literary History
The format 35 Literary Stories is dedicated to books and texts that have significantly shaped authors. The Lunch Lectures combine literary education with an immediate reading atmosphere: short, personal introductions meet linguistic precision, surprising references to works, and an open view of the literature of the past seven decades.
Crauss and the Video Clip Aesthetics of Poetry
Crauss, born in 1971 and living in Siegen, became known since the 1990s through a productive transfer of video clip aesthetics to poetry. His work encompasses poems, essays, short prose, critiques, translations, and spoken songs. His poetry has been translated into more than ten languages; he has also received important scholarships and literary awards. His recent publications include Schundfaktor, Dragon Oaths, and Everything about Ruth – and since then.
Kadhem Khanjar: Poetry as a Public Act
With Kadhem Khanjar, an Iraqi lyricist comes into focus whose art extends far beyond the classical reading space. Together with the collective Kultur-Miliz, Khanjar organizes poetry performances at war sites, amidst bombed houses and burned-out cars. This connection of voice, place, and political experience gives his poetry a compelling presence and opens the cultural discourse to questions of violence, memory, and witness.
Literary Experience at the Interim of the Central Library
The Lunch Lecture begins promptly at 1:15 PM and lasts nearly 45 minutes. The format creates space for an intense yet accessible engagement with literature. Snacks, chairs, and local fruit are part of the welcoming atmosphere of this Wednesday ritual. Admission is free, and registration is not required.
Those who want to experience literature as a living art of language and discover new poetic perspectives will find a special author encounter here: Crauss opens up the view on Kadhem Khanjar's work and makes it palpable how literature finds new forms at the edges of the sayable.
Official Channels of Crauss and Kadhem Khanjar:
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