Reading & Discussion | Moderator: Alexander Solloch (NDR Kultur)
Broder Bahnsen never wanted to be anything other than a farmer, following in the footsteps of his father, who passed down to him a “knack for cows”—an instinctive understanding of animals. But the farm goes to his twin brother Henning, who is just a few minutes older, has always been more self-assured, and is more interested in machinery. Driven from the farm, Broder builds a life for himself elsewhere, becomes a veterinarian, and keeps his distance from the family business until, after more than twenty years, he returns and takes over a practice near his family. From then on, he also cares for his brother’s herd; Henning has turned their parents’ farm into a state-of-the-art model operation, with cows bred for maximum milk production.
But success comes at a price. Broder is the first to notice that Henning is slowly losing control of his farm. And he suddenly finds himself wondering if this isn’t exactly what he’s been waiting for all these years. Is this his chance to finally take his brother’s place? Or, just like his daughter Claire, has he long harbored doubts about this type of animal husbandry?
Dörte Hansen writes with great clarity about a world in which our belief in endless growth is reaching its limits and the question of our responsibility toward creation is becoming ever more urgent.
Dörte Hansen, born in Husum in 1964, worked as an NDR editor and writer for radio and print after completing her studies in linguistics. Her debut novel, *Altes Land*, was named the “Independent Booksellers’ Favorite Book” in 2015. Her second novel, *Mittagsstunde* (2018), was awarded the Rheingau Literature Prize and the Grimmelshausen Literature Prize. Her highly acclaimed novel *Zur See* was published in 2022.
Acclaimed by audiences and critics alike, all of her books have become SPIEGEL annual bestsellers. Dörte Hansen lives with her family in North Frisia.
Advance tickets: 8 € plus fees at mvticket.de & at the press center
At the door: 12 €
Reduced rate: 5 € for members of Literaturhaus Rostock e.V., students, WarnowPass holders, people with severe disabilities, and holders of a Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Volunteer Card—please register at reservierung (at) literaturhaus-rostock(dot)de
Culture Ticket for students at the University of Rostock, hmt Rostock, and the University of Applied Sciences Wismar—please register at reservierung (at) literaturhaus-rostock(dot)de
Location: Vienna House by Wyndham Sonne, Neuer Markt 2, 18055 Rostock
A collaboration between the radio station NDR Kultur and the Literaturhaus Rostock.
The event will be recorded for radio and broadcast at a later date on the program “Sonntagsstudio” on NDR Kultur. It will then be available in the media library for 4 weeks.
