Friedrich-Mauke-Verlag: Bridge to Eastern European literature!

Friedrich-Mauke-Verlag: Bridge to Eastern European literature!

in Weimar has established itself in recent years a very special publisher has been established that makes Eastern European literature popular in Germany. The Friedrich-Mauke-Verlag founded by André Störr and his family was written on the task, work to bring from the Baltic States and the Balkans to the German living room. "Eastern European literature is an enormous treasure that needs to be lifted," says Störr, who lives and works in Weimar.

The publisher, named after a Thuringian printer, is more than just a company. The stubs have made their living space a publishing center, which underlines the personal connection to literature. Eight to ten titles appear there every year, which are translated almost exclusively into German by native speakers. Around half of these works come from Ukraine, a country whose literature is currently experiencing an intensive upswing.

insights into the Ukrainian literature

A particularly impressive example of the power of the Ukrainian voices is the book “I am transforming me” by Volodymyr Vakulenko-K. The tragic history of the Ukrainian writer, who wrote down his last thoughts and inspiring poems under the Russian occupation, has the potential to arouse many touches in Germany. His records were saved by the renowned author Victoria Amelina, who even died in a Russian rocket attack a few days after the rescue of his manuscript.

"I am transforming myself", which will be released on November 15, 2024, contains the last words of Vaculenko and texts by other Ukrainian authors such as Sashko Dermanskyi and Kateryna Lykhoglyad. As Amelina reports in her foreword, the book is also the result of close cooperation with the family of the deceased. The original edition was presented in Kyjiw on June 22, 2023, and the book looks at the strength and resilience of Ukrainian culture, which lives on in the face of war.

a publisher in the upswing

André Störr's commitment is now also estimated by the wider literary public. Friedrich-Mauke-Verlag has received the German publishing price and thus contributes to strengthening literary connections between Eastern Europe and Germany. Other literary beads, such as "Donetsk Girl" by Tamara Duda, which was voted "BBOK of the Year" of the BBC in 2019, show that the publisher has conquered a permanent place in the German literary scene.

In view of the ongoing efforts for cultural closeness, be it through the choice of regional graphic artists or the selection of authentic stories, the Friedrich Mauke-Verlag is a true jewel that enriches both literary and culturally.

It remains exciting how Eastern European literature will develop in Germany and other countries and which stories the publisher can still bring to light in the future. So much is certain: the connection between Eastern Europe and Germany is further strengthened by the commitment of the Friedrich Mauke publishing house.