Hidden stories: Martin Pollack's legacy in 'Times of Shame'

Hidden stories: Martin Pollack's legacy in 'Times of Shame'

Wien, Österreich - On June 22, 2025, the book "Times of Shame. Essays and Reports" will be presented in the Academy Theater. Published by Gerhard Zeillinger, a recognized publisher, literary scholar and historian, the book bears the legacy of Martin Pollack, who died on January 17, 2025. This publication is a tribute to the author, who was born in Bad Hall in 1944 and made a significant contribution to European culture as a journalist and translator of Polish literature. Pollack was previously a correspondent of Spiegel in Vienna and Warsaw from 1987 to 1998, where he became known for his gripping reports. " this special anthology and the thematic depth that Pollack's life runs through.

The title of the book unfolds its importance from a statement by Pollack during the awarding of the State Prize for Cultural Publicistics in 2018. He spoke of a “time of shame” in Europe, which reminds readers of the moral challenges in today's society. The uniqueness of the topics treated Pollack ranges from his reporting trips to the east to personal relationship experiences, especially to his grandfather, who was loving to him, but was considered a convinced National Socialist. This ambivalence is reflected in the selected essays, which are divided into five chapters: "Interjections to Europe", "Violence and Memory", "In the abyss of the family", "Landscapes with memory" and "in the country".

insights into the life and work of Martin Pollack

Pollack's texts not only treat his trips, but also current social issues as well as material conflicts in contaminated landscapes of Eastern Central Europe. Despite his personal dismay in these stories, be it through his family or his own disease history, Pollack never loses the version. His last text based on a medical record provided by Zeillinger shows how his complex family conditions are reflected in his literary work.

The upcoming book presentation on June 22, 2025 is enriched by a conversation between Gerhard Zeillinger and Christoph Ransmayr and readings by castle actors. Gerhard Zeilllinger, who was also responsible for the afterword and selection of the last collection, brings his expertise and personal connection to Pollack into this event. The book comprises 288 pages and is available for a price of 28 euros, which makes it a valuable enrichment for readers who are interested in cultural and historical topics.

a legacy for the literature

Martin Pollack, which also received numerous prizes such as the honorary award of the Austrian book trade for tolerance in thinking and acting (2007) and the Leipzig Book Prize for European Communication (2011), his literary career ends with this anthology. His last publications, including “contaminated landscapes” (2014) and “Topography of Memory” (2016), show the thematic consistency and the deep insights that pull through the Pollack's work. At a time when the processing of history and trauma in society is of great importance, the book "Times of Shame" uses relevant accents and invites you to reflect.

The book leads the readers through a variety of perspectives and illustrates the importance of memory and responsibility in a globalized world. The context of memory of National Socialism and dealing with the Holocaust are dealt with in today's literature and in research, as well as in the works of Marco Thomas Bosshard and Iulia-Karin Patrut, which reflect on similar topics in their book "Globalized Culture". Degruyter highlights the relevance and the challenges associated with the presentation of National Socialism, Holocaust and Exile in the literature.