The "Weiter Schreiben" (Keep Writing) project promotes literature from war-torn and crisis-stricken regions and has, most recently, shone its spotlight on Afghanistan. Afghan author Hussein Mohammadi's debut novella is an outstanding work that crosses frontiers. Gerrit Wustmann read the bookMore

Award-winning poet Dincer Gucyeter’s debut novel is a tour de force through the German reality he experienced as an artist and son of Turkish immigrants, written with an unsparing eye and literary ambition. Gerrit Wustmann read the bookMore

Fariduddin Attar’s "The Conference of the Birds", one of the seminal works of Islamic mysticism, has recently been published in sumptuously illustrated German translation. It makes an excellent introduction to the Persian poet. By Gerrit WustmannMore

Hakan Gunday is one of the most exciting authors on today’s Turkish literature scene. His novel "Ziyan", now published in German as "Verlust" – literally 'loss' – takes a radical and contemplative look at a country mired in permanent military conflict. Gerrit Wustmann read the bookMore

We’re familiar with Hafez, Forough Farrokzhad and Nima Yusij, but 21st century Persian poetry, the poetry of Iran written since the Islamic Revolution, is rarely accessible in German. Publishers Ali Abdollahi and Kurt Scharf are now seeking to change that with a comprehensive anthology. Gerrit Wustmann read the book for Qantara.deMore

Shida Bazyar's new novel is the literary surprise of the year. It tackles the pressing issues of our time, and yet it is timeless. This is a story of friendship, marginalisation and society's blindness to its own deep-seated problems. Gerrit Wustmann read the book for Qantara.deMore

A childhood and youth in Beirut, a life lived between Lebanon, Switzerland and Germany, and a unique voice in Arabic-language literature: "Beirut für wilde Mädchen" sees Lebanese author Chaza Charafeddine tell her country’s story from a highly personal perspective. Gerrit Wustmann read the bookMore