PREVIEW: The charming and intimate Literary Autumn Gstaad festival returns for its 14th edition from 24 -27 October. After months of preparation, the organisers are thrilled to present a diverse program, promising engaging and inspiring encounters with renowned authors and literature enthusiasts alike. Bringing literature to people is a true passion—because they all believe culture is essential to life. The Cultural Prize 2024, awarded to the group earlier this year by the Obersimmental-Saanenland-Pays-d’Enhaut Cultural Association, is a great honour and affirmation of their work.

A quick glance at this year’s program shows why it's worth keeping your schedule open for the last weekend of October. This year’s themes explore the varied realities of women's lives, relationships within families, love, and friendship, as well as questions of personal identity and confronting fears.

The festival opens with a children's reading by Jens Steiner in collaboration with local youth services. On Thursday evening, Kristin Höller will present her work “Leute von früher” while Christine Vescoli explores a touching mother-daughter relationship in “Mutternichts”. Friday evening, Anne Weber, the German Book Prize winner, will take the audience on a journey through the Parisian suburbs. At the same time, Mireille Zindel's “Fest” delves into emotional dependency and loss of identity.

Saturday begins with a French morning session where Daniel de Roulet will read from “Un dimanche à la montagne”. Julia Kohli will share the lively story of millionaire Matylda Želichowska in “Das Leben ist die grösstmögliche Ruhestörung”, and Jens Steiner will discuss artistic inspiration in “Die Ränder der Welt”. Mariann Bühler's debut, “Verschiebung im Gestein”, explores the transformative power of change. The evening will feature Nando von Arb’s graphic novel “Fürchten lernen”, which tackles universal human fears, followed by Klaus Merz’s award-winning poetry collection “Noch Licht im Haus”.

Sunday starts with a literary hike from Gruben to Gstaad, accompanied by texts from participants in the writing workshop. Barbara Rieger will then explore the dynamics of domestic violence in “Eskalationsstufen” before the festival concludes with a tribute to Austrian author Marlen Haushofer.

Noëmi Schöb (St. Gallen) and Leonora Schulthess (Bern) have carefully curated the program, with support from Klaus Breuninger, Markus Iseli, Rosa Reiter, and Theres Rütschi.

So why not join in a weekend celebrating the power of literature?
For complete program details and ticket information, visit www.literarischerherbst.ch