Book presentation by Selma Mahlknecht: Schaukler

Book presentation by Selma Mahlknecht: Schaukler

Hans is an illegitimate child, and in the village he's known as a cripple and a disgrace. He has to watch as his friends go off to war, fascists and Nazi bigwigs terrorise the population and his mother marries one of them. But Hans, who becomes a master painter, also experiences how the village gradually changes, grows and becomes more cosmopolitan. Nevertheless, even the increasing prosperity cannot eliminate the inequality.
‘Selma Mahlknecht depicts the rocking of the South Tyrolean village of Naturns over the course of a century, in the wider context of the country and Europe. The author paints an arduous rise, flanked by fractures and abysses - sensitively and ironically, bitterly and brilliantly told.’
Hans Heiss, historian
Selma Mahlknecht is a writer, director and playwright who lives in Switzerland. Her novel ‘Helena’ (2010) was awarded the Sir Walter Scott Prize. Most recently, Raetia published the essay ‘Berg and Breakfast. Ein Panorama der touristischen Sehnsüchte und Ernüchterungen’ (2021) and the novel ’Fö. Zernezer Feuer’ (2023) were published.

A joint event organised by the Südtiroler Künstlerbund and Edition Raetia.