Marathon reading in Hietzing: Experience László Krasznahorkai live for 30 hours!

Marathon reading in Hietzing: Experience László Krasznahorkai live for 30 hours!

The 12th marathon reading at the VHS Hietzing was a real festival for literature enthusiasts. Under the motto “We read the Nobel Prize,” the event attracted numerous readers and listeners. The reading began on Friday, December 5th and continued seamlessly for 30 hours straight through Saturday, December 6th. The impressive event was organized by Robert Streibel, the director of the VHS, and Gerald Bouchas, a committed cultural manager. Both were enthusiastic about the large number of readers this year, which benefited the quality of the reading. Robert Streibel emphasized how strong the community's interest in literature is, especially in the works of Nobel Prize winner László Krasznahorkai.

Krasznahorkai, a Hungarian writer, was born on January 5, 1954 and made a name for himself with his debut novel “Satanstango” (1985). His works often deal with existentialist and apocalyptic themes and have been translated into more than 30 languages. For his “urgent and visionary work” he received the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature this year, as the Swedish Academy in Stockholm announced. They highlighted his “extraordinary linguistic vitality” and praised his “powerful, musically inspired epic style”. Krasznahorkai has been one of the favorites for this award for years and is the second Hungarian Nobel Prize in Literature winner after Imre Kertesz (2002).

Artful literary marathon

Each reading block of the marathon reading lasted 20 minutes. Dietmar Koschier, one of the readers, noted that Krasznahorkai's style is particularly challenging because he hardly uses periods. Mathias Kautzky took over the reading part from Koschier on Saturday at 7 a.m. and thrilled the audience with his performance. Kurt Raubal, another reader, praised both the organization and rhythm of Krasznahorkai's texts. The event wasn't just an experience on site; It could also be followed via an online live stream, and the reading is also available subsequently via a YouTube link.

Despite the size and scope of the event, it was a special pleasure for many to experience Krasznahorkai's literature up close. Participants had the opportunity to actively participate by submitting their own video reading contributions, which further strengthened the sense of community and encouraged the exchange of literature.

A significant prize

The Nobel Prize for Literature itself is not just an award, but comes with prize money of one million euros (around 11 million Swedish kronor), which will be presented on December 10th, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel's death. This year there were over 200 nominees and the award goes to an author whose works affirm the power of art in crisis situations. It was also revealed that the Swedish Academy based its selection on the works presented and the innovations within them.

The 12th marathon reading in the VHS Hietzing was not only a literary marathon, but also a celebration of art and culture, which was made into an unforgettable experience thanks to the impressive performance of László Krasznahorkai and the enthusiasm of the readers. An event like this is a must for literature lovers in order to gain a deep insight into the thoughts and feelings of contemporary authors.