Transnational Series: Rachel TonThat and Tobias Bärtsch

Join the for an in-store event with Rachel TonThat and Tobias Bärtsch to discuss and honor the release of Die Alp an sich: Tales from the Sarganserland.

"TonThat and Bärtsch make language perceptible across languages and honor the creative work of translation—producing a work of rare coherence . . . Under TonThat’s direction, this multilayered, carefully designed form—from film photography to overall design—elevates the book far beyond a simple collection, making it a work that not only preserves the traditions but also reflects on, interrogates, and revitalizes them." —Janin Pisarek, folklorist, narrative researcher, and Vice President of the European Fairy Tale Society

Die Alp an sich is a bilingual collection of literary translations of Swiss folklore from the Sarganserland region by Tobias Bärtsch and Rachel TonThat. Translated from Swiss German and High German into English for the first time, the book dwells on the lifespan of the stories through time with past versions paired with historical context, new retellings, and excerpts from 19th to 21st century folklorists, including an essay by folklorist Dr. Meret Fehlmann at the University of Zurich.

Rachel TonThat is an interdisciplinary artist and writer working with narrative structures around themes of possible futures, memory, and space-time. She is co-founder of the social art and publishing project, Oreades Press, and curates the project space Airtight Garage. She was selected for the inaugural She Who Has No Master(s) writing mentorship through the Diasporic Vietnamese Artist Network, and her work has been supported by the city of Zurich, the canton of St. Gallen, New England Foundation For the Arts, Mass Cultural Council, Collective Futures Fund, Tin House Writing Workshop, and Fondation Jan Michalski. Her essays and art criticism have appeared in Diacritics, The Amp, and Boston Art Review.

Tobias Bärtsch is a Swiss-Polish artist and writer based in Zurich, Switzerland. His interdisciplinary practice spans various media, often beginning with text. In 2024, he participated in the group exhibition Uncanny Unchained at Kunsthalle St. Gallen. He wrote for various publications, such as PW Magazine and transversal texts. His work has been supported by the canton of St. Gallen through a Werkbeitrag grant.

The Transnational Literature Series at Brookline Booksmith

The Transnational Series focuses on stories of migration, the intersection of politics and literature, and works in translation and is supported by the independent bookstore Brookline Booksmith. Subscribe to the Transnational Series newsletter for information on upcoming events, book recommendations, and more.

What You Need to Know to Attend

RSVP to let us know you're coming! RSVPs don't guarantee a seat, but you'll be alerted to important details about the program, including safety requirements, cancellations, and book signing updates.

Reserve a Book

• Books will be available for purchase at the event, but you can ensure that you get a copy by preordering on this page. You can pick your book up after 6:30PM on the day of the event.
• Can't make it to the event? Preorder the book here to have it signed, and choose to have it held or shipped from the store! Book orders are processed for pickup or shipping after ticket sales have closed.

Livestream!

Barring technical difficulty, this event will be livestreamed to our store YouTube channel.

Event Accesibility

This event will take place at street level. If possible, the event will be livestreamed to YouTube. ASL interpretation may be provided (based on the availability of interpreters) but must be requested at least 2 weeks in advance of the event. Seats are limited. Please email [email protected] as soon as possible if you require ASL interpretation, guaranteed seating, or other accommodations. We will do our best to serve your needs!

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING COVID & IN-PERSON EVENTS:

Please note that any Brookline Booksmith in-person event may be canceled by the bookstore, publisher, or author based on concerns about health and safety around the time of the event. Wherever possible, any in-person appearance canceled due to COVID will be moved to the Brookline Booksmith Zoom as a webinar at the same date and time, and all tickets and registrations will be transferred to the online event. Book signing details may change. Refunds may be requested in the case of a virtual pivot or event cancelation.

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