Literaturhaus Hamburg 2026 - Tash Aw

Tash Aw presents his new novel "Der Süden" on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at 19:30 at Literaturhaus Hamburg, Schwanenwik 38, 22087 Hamburg. The novel is set in the late 1990s, when the family of sixteen-year-old Jay leaves Kuala Lumpur for southern Malaysia to take over the house and land of his deceased grandfather. The farm that belongs to it has long fallen into ruin, and the fruit plantation suffers under the ongoing drought.

Jay is to look after the plantation on the orders of his strict father, although it seems hopeless. Chuan, the son of the farm overseer, helps him, and Jay feels immediately drawn to him. "Der Süden" is published by Luchterhand, in a translation by pociao and Roberto de Hollanda.

The novel tells of gay desire and of family as a site of social change: Jay's traditional father remains bound to old structures, while the mother struggles for her independence. The older sisters want to study, and Jay lives his homosexuality, which is punishable in Malaysia, with self-confidence. Tash Aw was born in Taiwan as the child of parents from Malaysia and grew up in Kuala Lumpur.

His novels were nominated three times for the Booker Prize, have been translated into 23 languages and have received numerous awards. Yael Inokai is the moderator.

Uğur Taşbilek gives the German reading. The event is supported by the Behörde für Kultur und Medien.