The Eternal Provocateur: Maxim Biller (Germany) in Conversation with Dr. Yaakov Herskovitz
German writer, columnist, singer-songwriter and TV persona Maxim Biller was born in Prague to a Jewish family and is recognized as one of the most provocative and compelling voices in contemporary German literature. A prominent figure in European Jewish discourse, Biller’s work often reflects the tension between past and present in Jewish life and culture.
Offering bold explorations of identity and memory, his books have been translated into 16 languages. In 2012, he received the prestigious Würth Prize for Literature. His latest novel, Mama Odessa (published in Germany in 2023), traces the story of a Russian-Jewish family grappling with historical trauma and complex relationships. Spanning decades, the ambitious narrative moves from the 1941 Odessa massacre, through the late Stalinist period, and into the present day.
Biller will join literary scholar Dr. Yaakov Herskovitz to discuss his new novel, the role of the Jewish writer in Germany, and the shifting attitudes of German society toward him and toward Jews in general in the wake of October 7.
The event is held in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Israel
