The Solothurner Literaturtage festival is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year from 11 to 13 May. To mark the jubilee, a special evening programme has been created with literary discoveries to be made in bars and restaurants and on squares in the old town centre of Solothurn. The traditional festival programme features over 70 Swiss and international authors encompassing the genres of fiction, poetry, spoken word, children’s and youth literature and translation.

For Saturday, 12 May, 5 pm, Pro Helvetia has organised an event with Swiss writer Peter Stamm and his translators Anibal Campos, Slavo Serc and Maija Zorkaya. A panel discussion on the subject of «Critical Writing – Literaturkritik in der Schweiz heute und morgen» also on Saturday, 12 May, at 10 am, likewise promises to yield interesting views and insights.

Young readers are specifically invited for a taste of literature in the days prior to the main festival. The children’s and youth literature days from 7 to 9 May offer a wide range of readings and workshops. School classes are welcome! Pro Helvetia provides financial backing for the Solothurner Literaturtage via a support agreement.