Agnieszka Lessmann and Frank Olbert present their book premieres in Cologne
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A literary dialogue about the vanished Jewish Cologne
On November 12, 2026, two independent books will meet at the Interim of the Central Library of Cologne, engaging in an intense dialogue: Agnieszka Lessmann will present her poetry collection Schieferbruchverse, and Frank Olbert will introduce the historical essay The Vanished Quarter. The book premiere connects poetic language art with cultural historical research, offering a multifaceted view of Jewish life in Cologne.
Archaeology in Poetry
Agnieszka Lessmann's cycle of poems follows two parallel explorations. At its core are the archaeological excavations of the medieval Jewish quarter in Cologne and the personal search for the meaning of Jewish heritage. Slate fragments, Hebrew inscriptions, and memory fragments become poetic resonance spaces, where past and present overlap.
Lessmann works as a lyricist, audio play and novel author. Her literary quality arises from the precise connection of personal perception, historical experience, and a concentrated, imagery-rich language. The work on Schieferbruchverse was funded by the German Literature Fund.
An Essay on History and Memory
Frank Olbert's The Vanished Quarter is dedicated to the history of Cologne and the entire Ashkenazi Judaism. The essay examines the foundations of European anti-Judaism and illustrates how historical spaces are shaped by obliteration, transmission, and new cultures of remembrance.
Olbert was a cultural journalist and head of the Feuilleton of the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger. His journalistic perspective combines historical context with the accuracy of literary observation. Together with Lessmann, a reading is created where essay and lyric do not stand side by side but question each other.
A Journey Through the Time Layers of Cologne
The reading atmosphere promises an intense literary experience: voice, rhythm, and historical research navigate through the time layers of the medieval Jewish quarter up to the memory history of the 20th century. The focus also centers on the question of how anti-Semitic violence continues to resonate in biographies and what language can be found for remembrance.
The book premiere is organized by the Literature-in-Cologne-Archive in cooperation with the bookstore Klaus Bittner and Germania Judaica. Literature enthusiasts will experience an author encounter that connects poetry, essay, urban history, and cultural discourse.
Conclusion: Literature as a Form of Remembrance
This reading demonstrates how literary language art makes historical spaces newly experienceable. Agnieszka Lessmann and Frank Olbert open an evening between poetry, essay, and culture of remembrance. Those wishing to experience Cologne's Jewish history from both a poetic and analytical perspective will find a special book premiere here with lasting impact.
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- Publisher: https://www.gansverlag.de/veranstaltungen/
