Literature in Neuruppin & on tour – Life is an open experiment
As a city of culture, Neuruppin, the city of Fontane, is above all a city of literature. From 5 to 26 September, the 12th European Literature Festival Brandenburg ‘Neben der Spur’ (Off Track) will take place there, featuring 14 high-calibre events.
Image gallery
Nora Osagiobare
John von Düffel
Leon Engler
Nell Zink
The selection of authors presented will be an encouragement to all who suspect or know that life is an open experiment – with an uncertain outcome. Franz Kafka once wrote: ‘A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us.’ That is exactly what the festival aims to offer. Great literature in the relaxed atmosphere of the literary city of Neuruppin on Lake Ruppin.
Guests in Neuruppin:
8 authors from 5 to 14 September: Nell Zink ‘Sister Europe’, Hans-Haiko Seifert ‘Joanna’, Henning Ahrens ‘Years Between Dog and Wolf’, David Finck ‘The Vertigo’, Katerina Poladjan “Goldstrand”, Nora Osagiobare ‘Daily Soap’, Leon Engler ‘Botanik des Wahnsinns’ (Botany of Madness), John von Düffel ‘Ich möchte lieber nichts’ (I'd Rather Have Nothing).4 young adult authors from 15 to 26 September: Tania Witte ‘Wild. Sie hören dich denken’ (Wild. They Hear You Thinking), Stephan Knösel ‘Das Leben ist nichts für Anfänger’ (Life Is Not for Beginners), Michael Sieben ‘Und dann springe ich’ (And Then I Jump), Tobias Wagner ‘Death in Brachstedt’
The programme at a glance
Fri 5 September 2025
7 p.m. Sister Europe Reading Nell Zink | Altes Gymnasium Neuruppin (M) Andreas Knaesche
Sat 6 September 2025
3 p.m. Johanna Reading Hans-Haiko Seifert | Old Gymnasium Neuruppin (M) Peter Böthig
7 p.m. Jahre zwischen Hund und Wolf Reading Henning Ahrens | Old Gymnasium Neuruppin (M) Otto Wynen
Sunday, 7 September 2025
3 p.m. The Swindle Reading David Finck | Old Grammar School Neuruppin (M) Hendrik Röder
Friday, 12 September 2025
7 p.m. Golden Beach Reading Katerina Poladjan | Infirmary Chapel Neuruppin (M) Nadine Kreuzahler
Sat 13 September 2025
Literary bike tour Neuruppin-Krangen-Alt Ruppin-Neuruppin with 2 readings & coffee table
3 p.m. Daily Soap Reading Nora Osagiobare | Krangen Church (M) Sieglinde Geisel
4.30 p.m. Coffee table in Krangen Church
6:30 p.m. Botany of Madness Reading Leon Engler | Alt Ruppin Church (M) Knut Elstermann
Sun, 14 September 2025
11 a.m. I'd Rather Not Reading John von Düffel | Fontane Bookshop Neuruppin (M) Otto Wynen in cooperation with the Fontane Bookshop Neuruppin
3 p.m. Literary tour Lennart Schaefer – Welcome to Neuruppin | Schulplatz
School readings with children's and young adult authors
Mon, 15 September 2025Morning Literary tour Lennart Schaefer in Neuruppin schools
9 a.m. Wild – They Can Hear You Thinking School reading Tania Witte | Schinkel-Gymnasium
11.30 a.m. Wild – They Can Hear You Thinking School reading Tania Witte | Evangelisches Gymnasium
Tue 16 September 2025
Morning Life is not for beginners School reading Stephan Knösel | Schinkel-Gymnasium
Wednesday, 17 September 2025
11:30 a.m. Life is not for beginners School reading Stephan Knösel | Evang. Gymnasium
Thursday, 18 September 2025
10:00 a.m. And then I jump School reading Michael Sieben | Puschkin Secondary School
Friday, 26 September 2025
11:30 a.m. Death in Brachstedt School reading Tobias Wagner | Fontane School
(Language: German)
