Johannes Herwig, Germany

Johannes Herwig was born in 1979 and grew up in Leipzig, where he still lives today. He studied sociology and psychology, worked stints in construction and in the cultural sector and is cofounder of the film gallery Phase IV in Dresden. In 2013 he decided to follow his long-cherished dream and become a writer.

His three young adult books published so far are all award winners. For his debut novel “Bis die Sterne zittern” (Until the stars tremble) he received, among other awards, the Paul Maar Preis für neue Talente. In 2024 Herwig was the first children’s and young adult writer ever to receive the Anna Seghers Prize. His narratives delve closely into the inner lives and experiences of his figures, grounded in the place he knows best, in the city of Leipzig. His novels are set either in the Nazi era or in the rough years after German reunification. They revolve around ever-recurring themes such as ostracism, resistance and violence. And yet they manage to convey hope, commitment and awakenings.

The events with Johannes Herwig will be moderated by Tina Rausch, literary educator and literary scholar.

To “Bis die Sterne zittern” and “Half Lion” from Johannes Herwig