Judith Hermann confronts her grandfather's Nazi past in a haunting new novel

Acclaimed author Judith Hermann will release her latest novel, I Want to Go Back in Time, at the end of February. Published by S. Fischer Verlag, the book explores her grandfather's role in Nazi-occupied Poland during World War II. Hermann, a winner of the Kleist Prize and the Friedrich Hölderlin Prize, will discuss the work at the Leipzig Book Fair in March.

The novel blends autobiography with a broader look at German memory and the silence of postwar generations. Hermann traces her grandfather's time in Radom, Poland, where he served as an SS member in 1941 and helped build a ghetto. Her research, based on family records and a single photograph, uncovers a history long denied by her family.

On Friday, March 20, 2026, Hermann will speak about the book at the Leipzig Book Fair. The event begins at 12:30 PM in Hall 5, Stand G500, and will be moderated by Klaus Hillenbrand. Entry is free for visitors with a valid fair ticket, and the discussion will also stream live on YouTube.

Audience members can submit questions in advance via email to ourwebsitetalk@ourwebsite. The Leipzig Book Fair, which hosts a range of literary events, will provide further updates on its official website.

Hermann's novel examines the legacy of her grandfather's actions and the broader silence around Nazi-era complicity. The book and her upcoming talk offer a personal and historical reflection on memory, guilt, and the gaps in family narratives. Copies of I Want to Go Back in Time will be available from late February.