Hannah Häffner in Jena: Reading from The Giants delights literature lovers
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Hannah Häffner reads in Jena from her novel The Giants
A Black Forest village, three women, and several generations: On October 29, 2026, Hannah Häffner will present her novel The Giants at the Ernst-Abbe-Library Jena. The reading is dedicated to a literary family portrait about freedom, rootedness, motherhood, and the power of nature.
Three Women, Three Life Paths
At the heart of the novel is Wittenmoos, a small village in the Black Forest. Liese runs a butcher shop there quietly and relentlessly. Her daughter Cora carries the desire for escape and self-determination inside her. Eva, Cora's daughter, has a special connection to the forest as she searches for her own place in life.
The three women not only overshadow their surroundings physically. They also symbolize a life outside of narrow social expectations. Over the time span from the 1960s to the present, Hannah Häffner unfolds a multifaceted family saga about mothers and daughters, boundaries, and homecoming.
Poetic Language and Accurate Observation
The Giants combines contemporary literature with a strong nature motif. Dark, rich, and at the same time delicate poetry meets fine humor and stylistic precision. The landscape of the Black Forest becomes not just a mere backdrop, but a standalone resonance space for memory, loss, and change.
Hannah Häffner, born in 1985 in Heidelberg, studied political science and initially worked as an advertising copywriter. With The Giants, she presents her first literary novel. The book was published in 2026 by Penguin Verlag and was awarded as a SPIEGEL bestseller as well as the Literature Prize Favorite Book of the Independents.
Literary Experience at the Ernst-Abbe-Library
The reading atmosphere in the Ernst-Abbe-Library promises a focused author encounter with a linguistically striking contemporary writer. The voices and relationships of the three characters in the novel, the longing for freedom, and the question of how closely heritage and self-determination remain connected, are at the center.
The event starts at 7:30 PM, with doors opening at 7:00 PM. The conversation with Hannah Häffner offers literature enthusiasts the opportunity to directly explore the narrative construction, the images of nature, and the cultural significance of her novel.
Conclusion: A Reading About Freedom, Heritage, and Female Life Designs
The reading marathon with Hannah Häffner promises an intense literary experience between family novel, nature poetry, and social observation. Those who appreciate contemporary literature with atmospheric language and strong female characters will experience a unique author encounter in Jena. Secure your ticket now for the reading from The Giants.
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