Haunted Territory: The Weight of History

Co-Presented By Villa Aurora and Wende Museum

This is a free event, but registration is required.

Jenny Erpenbeck’s childhood, she has commented, “belongs in a museum.” Born in the now-defunct GDR; she was twenty-two and in university when the Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989. In her most recent novel, Kairos, Erpenbeck narrates two breakups: one romantic, one political. An intense and formative relationship collapses, like the GDR, leaving behind a narrative ruin. In Go, Went, Gone (2015), she centers her novel on the moral question of asylum, through an encounter between a privileged German citizen and a small group of displaced African refugees. Erpenbeck, an epic storyteller and one of the most celebrated authors in Germany, discusses her work with novelist Charmaine Craig at the Wende Museum, whose mission is to explore the complicated legacy of the Cold War and its relevance to contemporary social and political issues. Co-presented by Wende Museum and Villa Aurora.

The 2024 PEN World Voices Festival, the 20th anniversary of the festival, will be a celebration of world literature and free expression. Over four days, over 100 writers from nearly 30 countries will be featured in engaging talks, panels, readings, and performances in New York City and greater Los Angeles.

Visit for more information about the entire festival, as well as PEN America.

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While not required, per public health official guidelines, the World Voices Festival recommends being fully vaccinated, and wearing masks in all public indoor settings as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19, as well as around crowds.

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Host or Publisher PEN America