Karl Schlögel is the first to ask the most obvious question: “What must have happened for someone like me, who has spent a lifetime studying Russia, to come up with the idea of writing a book about America?” Because it is quite astonishing to see a work called “American Matrix” announced by the Eastern Europe expert.
But Schlögel has had a “deep sympathy” with the USA since his first trip in 1970. In his non-fiction book, nominated for the Bavarian Book Prize, he attempts to “reconstruct his own fascination” – and of course also makes comparisons with Russia, based on its spatial characteristics. Schlögel is aware that not only things are constantly changing, and so his observations are also “travels through time”.
Karl Schlögel, reading and conversation with Stefan Kornelius (SZ), Monday, September 25th, 7 p.m., Literaturhaus, Salvatorplatz 1, literaturhaus-muenchen.de