Jana Hensel »Es war einmal ein Land. Warum sich der Osten von der Demokratie verabschiedet«

February 24, 2026 / 7.30 pm / Literature Café

In her new book, bestselling author Jana Hensel tells of the end of a great dream. Because what began over 35 years ago as the dawn of a new era is now being called into question by more and more East Germans and is threatening to come to an end - democracy in East Germany. Hensel astutely describes the long road to the right, which for many East Germans once began on the left and now leads through a reunified Federal Republic that is itself in the deepest crisis in its history. Hensel does not shy away from hard truths, does not fall in line with common narratives about the East and shows once again that she has retained her very own perspective and unmistakable narrative tone since her Spiegel bestseller "Zonenkinder". Shocked by her own realization, she takes us on a journey at the end of which she hopes to find an explanation for why democracy is no longer an option for many East Germans. (Aufbau 2026)

Jana Hensel, born in 1976, grew up in Leipzig and rose to fame in 2002 with her portrait of a young East German generation, "Zonenkinder". Since then, she has worked as a journalist and published numerous books that have become SPIEGEL bestsellers. She was awarded the Theodor Wolff Prize for her work and honored as Journalist of the Year for her reporting on East Germany. She works for DIE ZEIT and lives in Berlin.

Admission: 10,- / 7,- EUR

Event organized by Literaturhaus Leipzig e.V.

Reduced admission for disabled persons and their accompanying person (only if registered in the disabled pass), unemployed persons, pupils and students (up to 35) as well as holders of the Leipzig Pass or an honorary pass, in each case only on presentation of the pass).