How hospitable are we?
Dialogue European Literature Days Reading
In her book Gastfreundschaft (“Hospitality”), Priya Basil explores the principle of the open society. “You’re cordially invited ...” This statement creates a pleasant sense of anticipation, for instance, about an enjoyable evening with delicious food and good conversations. But much-acclaimed hospitality involves far more than that – it is a versatile give and take, which includes family, friends and strangers. And it means something different in every culture.
Ghayath Almadhoun’s poems raise a voice for the victims of the Syrian civil war, for refugees and asylum seekers, the injured and those left behind. Almadhoun is himself a war refugee; he finds a possibility to capture the unspeakable destruction in words. He describes sadness, homesickness, love and pain.
Priya Basil is a passionate advocate of a hospitable Europe. But how hospitable actually is our society today?
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Ghayath Almadhoun, b. 1979, is a Palestinian and Swedish poet and filmmaker. He studied at Damascus University and emigrated to Sweden in 2008. His poems have been translated into numerous languages. His most recent book in German: Ein Raubtier namens Mittelmeer, 2018. “His poems are sustained by radicality, absurdity and great stylistic sensitivity. They visualize the Syrian disaster and at the same time defend humanity and individuality.” |
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Priya Basil, b. 1977, is a British-Indian writer. She grew up in Kenya, studied in Great Britain and now lives in Berlin. Basil is a co-founder of Authors for Peace. Her latest book in German: Gastfreundschaft, 2019. “The idea that especially in times of migration and the upsurge of nationalism, it is good and proper to publicize the importance of hospitality is ... the prevailing, never educationally pronounced, though entirely natural and sympathetic idea of the Berlin-based writer” |
