A Moravian town 1954: Mira defies her parents and goes ice-skating. She is punished with not getting a cupcake, but this event changes her life forever. Tragedy binds her to her taciturn, oddball Aunt Hana, and the two must learn to live together. Gradually, the story of her Jewish ancestors is revealed and Mira learns to understand why her aunt finds it so difficult to find her way in life.

Three generations of family history in the 20th century. Two skilfully interwoven time levels and destinies in cruel times. In addition to the suffering they have endured, two women also have to deal with the question of guilt if their own actions cause suffering to others, consciously or unconsciously. And how do you bear to be the only one to survive.

The story, based on true events, is written at a gripping pace, dramatic like a movie. Alena Mornštajnová's multi-award-winning novel has been translated into more than a dozen languages and is a bestseller in the Czech Republic.

Alena Mornštajnová, born 1963, is a Czech writer and translator. She wrote four novels and a children's book. Alena Mornštajnová studied English and Czech at the University of Ostrava. She made her debut in 2013 with the novel Slepá mapa (Blind Map) and in 2015 her second novel Hotýlek (The Little Hotel). Mainly because of her third novel, Hana, Alena Mornštajnová has been one of the most popular contemporary Czech writers since 2017. Her novel Hana was awarded the Czech Book Prize 2018, among others, and was named Book of the Year 2017 on the Databáze knih (Database of Books) website.

 

Location: Klemperer Hall (1st floor)

Admission free

 

A cooperation of: Euroregion Elbe/Labe, Municipal Libraries Dresden, SLUB, Czech Center Berlin and Czech Literature Center (ČLC). Under the patronage of the Consul General of the Czech Republic in Dresden JUDr. Marketa Meissnerova.