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Marlen Haushofer’s dystopian novel Die Wand has reached a wide and varied audience since its publication in 1963: far from being restricted to an academic readership, it has become both a cult book and a modern classic. Despite having written an international bestseller, Marlen Haushofer remains a relatively undiscovered figure and presence within her generation of Austrian writers. In this she is comparable to Ilse Aichinger and Gerhard Fritsch, and in marked contrast to Ingeborg Bachmann and Thomas Bernhard.
This conference, originally timed to mark the 100th anniversary of Haushofer’s birth and the 50th of her death, is broadly conceived. It will seek to situate her work within the historical contexts of the post-war period and the Cold War, as well as within the cultural contexts of Austrian literature in particular and dystopian fiction in general.
A specially re-imagined version of the stage adaptation by the theatre company Gaitkrash of the novella
Killing Stella is available to view free of charge from 14 to 28 May 2021. Further details/booking at https://modernlanguages.sas.ac.uk/events/event/24370

Programme [PDF]
Abstracts
[PDF]

The conference will be held online (via the Zoom platform) over three days. Participation is free, but advance online registration is essential. Registration closes on 16 May 2021. Please check Junk/Clutter folders for confirmation of booking. 


The Ingeborg Bachmann Centre is sponsored by the Austrian Cultural Forum London, and the Institute of Modern Languages Research, University of London.