Aphorism, diary entry, prose poem – the German equivalents of the microrrelato are diverse. Nevertheless, the micro-story does not exist as a distinct genre in German literature. In Latin America and Spain, by contrast, the micro-story has established itself in recent decades as a small but fine format. It even stands confidently alongside the novel. In contrast, the German micro-text – commonly referred to as ‚Kurzprosa’ – tends to have the overtone of the temporary, the unfinished, the mere preliminary study.

With this in mind, authors from the Spanish- and German-speaking worlds came together in October 2011 to discuss micro-texts at the Lettrétage: indeed, writers such as Arno Schmidt, Franz Kafka and Bertolt Brecht are sometimes regarded by today’s authors from Spain and Argentina as the forefathers of the micro-story. By contrast, the Argentine microrrelato virtuosos David Lagmanovich and authors such as Luisa Valenzuela and Ana María Shua are virtually unknown in this country.

The scope of this international writers’ exchange on micro-texts at the Lettrétage was correspondingly broad: the aim was to explore the literary diversity of micro-texts, trace their historical roots, examine their connections to journalism, discuss the formation of literary canons and the influence of the book market, and discuss what a micro-text demands of its readers.

Sponsors:
- Spanish Ministry of Culture
- Spanish Embassy in Berlin
- Argentine Embassy in Berlin
- Friede Springer Stiftung
- Pro Spanien
- Arbeitsgemeinschaft literarischer Gesellschaften (ALG)
- VBKI
- Pro Helvetia, Swiss Arts Council
- Austrian Cultural Forum
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Cooperation partner:
Department of Translation and Interpreting, Ruprecht-Karls-University of Heidelberg