Catch of the Day - The S. Fischer Foreign Rights Podcast

About Catch of the Day - The S. Fischer Foreign Rights Podcast

Catch of the Day brings to you exclusive English audio samples of S. Fischer's most exciting titles. Find more information about our books on our website: fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults (fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) Send feedback and rights inquiries to foreignrights@fischerverlage.de (foreignrights@fischerverlage.de), or visit our website (fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights (instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights) Credits Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz Impressum: fischerverlage.de/impressum (fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

S Fischer Foreign Rights

Category

arts · fiction

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Aug 2024

Latest episode

27 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

15 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   27 Aug 2026

   Catch of the Day Ep. 15: »The Cicada Sheds Its Shiny Golden Skin« by Valeria Gordeev read by Imogen Taylor

   Catch of the Day Ep. 15: »The Cicada Sheds Its Shiny Golden Skin« by Valeria Gordeev read by Imogen Taylor In this episode, translator Imogen Taylor reads an English sample of Valeria Gordeev’s »The Cicada Sheds Its Shiny Golden Skin«. Konstantin and Lada are siblings, divided by an unbridgeable silence. While Konstantin works in Moscow for a research institute responsible for preserving Lenin's body, Lada lives in Berlin as an artist. They have had no contact since the outbreak of the war. Lada cannot understand why Konstantin stayed in Moscow, and Konstantin has a task that is causing him headaches: his godfather has ordered him to steal rare biological specimens from the institute he works for. Valeria Gordeev masterfully weaves the intimate story of a family between Berlin, Kyiv and Moscow into the grand, turbulent upheavals of our present day. Praise for »The Cicada Sheds Its Shiny Golden Skin«: "A truly great work" – ZEIT Podcast "Was liest du gerade?", Adam Soboczynski "I have rarely read it done so brilliantly, how immediate political experiences are recast. That is truly great literature." – ZEIT Podcast "Was liest du gerade?", Iris Radisch Valeria Gordeev was born in Tübingen in 1986. She works as an author and illustrator. She has received numerous awards for her writing. In 2023, she won the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize at the 47th German Literature Days in Klagenfurt. The Cicada Sheds Its Shiny Golden Skin is her debut novel which was awarded the 2026 Literary Prize of the Jürgen Ponto Foundation and was longlisted for the 2026 German Book Award. Head to our website to find a pdf of today’s sample here (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/valeria-gordeev-die-zikade-entschluepft-ihrer-goldglaenzenden-huelle-9783103976342). Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our ⁠website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram ⁠@s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue ⁠here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app so you never miss an episode! Credits Text originally published as “Die Zikade entschlüpft ihrer goldglänzenden Hülle” by Valeria Gordeev Translated and read by Imogen Taylor Copyright © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2026 Photo of the author © Alena Schmick Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   17 Aug 2026

   Catch of the Day Ep. 14: »Magisch« by Annika Büsing read by Alexandra Roesch

   Catch of the Day Ep. 14: »Magisch« by Annika Büsing read by Alexandra Roesch In this episode, translator Alexandra Roesch reads an English sample of Annika Büsing’s »Magisch«. Marie never thought she would be sitting at her parents' kitchen table again in her mid-thirties, running a dog daycare centre in the village where she grew up. And yet that is her life now. In the middle of summer, Magisch is back too, Magisch, who slept in her bed for years, with whom she was the local punk couple – whom she hasn't seen since they broke up, but admittedly always missed. But then there's Andi, her brother and staunch right-winger – and for Marie, the time has come to finally stand up to him. In her unmistakable tone, Annika Büsing tells of an enduring love and the rift that runs through a family. Praise for »Magisch«: "a truly magnificent novel" - kultur.newsletter, Carsten Schrader "brilliant dialogue and a moving family story" - ARD MoMa, Thomas Schindler "Annika Büsing can do many things, but her absolute superpower is dialogue. Perhaps Magisch is the most beautiful and authentic love story of this autumn." – Kulturnews, Carsten Schrader "Strictly speaking, Büsing only wanted to tell a love story. But then, as if by itself, another story wove its way in – one that speaks of contemporary society." – Süddeutsche Zeitung, Max Florian Kühlem Annika Büsing (born 1981) lives with her family in Bochum and teaches at a secondary school. In 2022, she won the German Youth Literature Prize, the Ruhr Literature Prize and the Mara Cassens Prize for her acclaimed debut novel Nordstadt. She was also nominated for the Bavarian Book Prize, the Blogger Prize "Das Debüt" and the Debut Prize of the Harbour Front Literature Festival. With Koller, she made it onto the lists for the Evangelical Book Prize and the "Das zweite Buch" prize. Both novels have been adapted for the theatre. Her third novel, We're Getting By, was published by Steidl in spring 2025. Head to our website to find a pdf of today’s sample here (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/annika-buesing-magisch-9783103977448). Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram @s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue ⁠here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app so you never miss an episode! Credits Text originally published as “Magisch” by Annika Büsing Translated and read by Alexandra Roesch Copyright © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2026 Photo of the author © Jörg Steinmetz Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   20 Mar 2026

   Catch of the Day Ep. 13: »The Travelling Library« by Thomas Montasser read by Alexandra Roesch

   Catch of the Day Ep. 13: »The Travelling Library« by Thomas Montasser read by Alexandra Roesch In this episode, translator Alexandra Roesch reads an English sample of Thomas Montasser’s »The Travelling Library«. Vera and Hans meet in the white and blue tram that journeys through Munich as a travelling library - and fall in love. But as a “half-Jew,” Vera must now, in 1937, do everything she can to avoid attracting attention. The same goes for Hans, a socialist. The two hide coded messages for each other in the books of ostracized authors. Thomas Mann, Kästner, Tucholsky: as library books, they become a secret means of survival for Vera and Hans. Until Hans stops coming to the travelling library... Today: In an old tram car, restorer Sophie comes across faded library cards - and discovers the secret code of a great love. In »The Travelling Library«, Thomas Montasser draws on motifs and events from his own family history. During the Third Reich, his grandmothers were a maid for a Jewish family and a waitress in one of Hitler's favorite restaurants, respectively, while his grandfathers were a socialist and a communist - and both railroad workers. Thomas Montasser is an author, literary agent, and lecturer in book studies at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. His works have been translated into numerous languages and have appeared on bestseller lists in several countries. Head to our website to find a pdf of today’s sample (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/antje-ravik-strubel-blaue-frau-9783103971019)here (https://bilder-fischer.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/sampletranslations/9783758700057_english_translation.pdf). Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our ⁠website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram ⁠@s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue ⁠here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app so you never miss an episode! Credits Text originally published as “Die Wanderbücherei” by Thomas Montasser Translated and read by Alexandra Roesch Copyright © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2026 Photo of the author © Mariam Montasser Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

4. 

   26 Feb 2026

   Catch of the Day Ep. 12 »The New Fascism: Entitlement and the Urge to Destroy« by Eva von Redecker read by Lucy Duggan

   Catch of the Day Ep. 12: »The New Fascism: Entitlement and the Urge to Destroy« by Eva von Redecker read by Lucy Duggan In this episode, translator Lucy Duggan reads an English sample of Eva von Redecker’s »The New Fascism: Entitlement and the Urge to Destroy«. There is a shift to the right around the world, with authoritarian forces gaining power and influence everywhere. And yet the ever-present analogies to the Nazi era come to nothing: contemporary fascism has taken on a new form that is not easy to recognize and even more difficult to explain. In Redecker's groundbreaking analysis, its diffuse nature takes shape - and becomes vulnerable. She locates its core in the invocation of an unconditional claim to possession, defended at all costs. An enlightening and rebellious book that contrasts solidarity with the prevailing harshness of our times. "The core of fascism is an unleashed logic of property. Its counterparts are not people, but things; its enemies are not opponents, but thieves." – Eva von Redecker Eva von Redecker, born in 1982, is a philosopher and freelance author. After periods spent at Humboldt University, Cambridge University, University of Verona and the New School for Social Research in New York, she now writes articles for publications including Die Zeit. Eva von Redecker’s work focuses on critical theory, feminism, and critiques of capitalism. Her most recent publications are »The Freedom to Stay (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/eva-von-redecker-bleibefreiheit-9783103974997)« (2023) and »Revolution for Life (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/eva-von-redecker-revolution-fuer-das-leben-9783103970487)« (2020), she also provided the foreword to the German anniversary edition of »Dialectic of Enlightenment«. She grew up on an organic farm, and now lives in rural Brandenburg. Eva von Redecker's work is translated into Croatian, Czech, Dutch, English, French, Greek, Korean, Russian, Spanish. Head to our website to find a pdf of today’s sample (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/antje-ravik-strubel-blaue-frau-9783103971019)here (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/eva-von-redecker-dieser-drang-nach-haerte-9783103977240). Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our ⁠website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram ⁠@s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app so you never miss an episode! Credits Text originally published as “Dieser Drang nach Härte: Über den neuen Faschismus” by Eva von Redecker Translated and read by Lucy Duggan Copyright © 2026 Eva von Redecker © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2026 Photo of the author © Sophie Brand Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

5. 

   2 Feb 2026

   Catch of the Day Ep. 11: »What Truly Matters« by Nadine Schneider read by Alexandra Roesch

   Catch of the Day Ep. 11: »What Truly Matters« by Nadine Schneider read by Alexandra Roesch In this episode, translator Alexandra Roesch reads an English sample of Nadine Schneider’s »What Truly Matters«. »What Truly Matters« is a sweeping mother-daughter story spanning four generations, a book about farewells, new beginnings, and the work of life. It is late summer, and the grapes are ripe in the garden when Christina inherits her grandmother Anni's house. Here, in a small village near Nuremberg, she grew up with Anni: Anni, who fled Romania for Germany in the mid-1960s. Anni, who raised her child and grandchild all by herself, packing boxes for a mail-order giant to survive in a booming post-war economy. Who fought loneliness, poverty, and alienation with tenacity, strength, and a sense of duty. Was this the life she had dreamed of? Or did she miss out on life while living it? Christina hesitantly says goodbye to Anni and her house. In the quiet warmth of the last days of summer, she sinks deeper and deeper into her memories, comes across surprising finds, and also drives to the now abandoned site of the Quelle mail order center. She has cancelled her planned vacation, and only occasional emails from work reach her. Gradually, she realizes what she really owes her grandmother: the freedom to let go and find the place where the good life is at home. “This language achieves something: it tells a story that is breathless and yet full of tranquility.” - Zsuzsa Bánk Nadine Schneider, born in Nuremberg in 1990, comes from a Romanian-German family. She studied musicology and German language and literature in Regensburg, Cremona, and Berlin. Her first novel, "Drei Kilometer", won several awards, including the Literature Prize of the City of Fulda. In 2021, she read at the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize. Her second novel, "Wohin ich immer gehe", was published in the same year. Nadine Schneider lives with her family near Nuremberg. Head to our website to find a pdf of today’s sample (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/antje-ravik-strubel-blaue-frau-9783103971019)here (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/nadine-schneider-das-gute-leben-9783103977134). Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our ⁠website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram ⁠@s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue ⁠here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app so you never miss an episode! Credits Text originally published as “What Truly Matters” by Nadine Schneider Translated and read by Alexandra Roesch Copyright © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2025 Photo of the author © Max Gödecke Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

6. 

   26 Jan 2026

   Catch of the Day Ep. 10 »The House Sitter« by Emily Rudolf, read by Alexandra Roesch

   Catch of the Day Ep. 10: »The House Sitter« by Emily Rudolf, read by Alexandra Roesch In this episode, translator Alexandra Roesch reads an English sample of Emily Rudolf’s thriller »The House Sitter«. Cecilia works as a house sitter, moving from job to job. After the death of her mother, she has lost her footing and can no longer even afford a room in a shared apartment. Now she finds herself dropped off at the villa of the influential Waldner family, isolated on a tiny island in the Baltic Sea. The perfect idyll - the perfect trap. Because Cecilia is not here by chance: a powerful attraction connects her to Johannes Waldner, the son of the deceased owner. While Cecilia still thinks she is alone in the house, four people make their way to the island. With dark secrets and their own agendas. But would they kill for it? Emily Rudolf is a SPIEGEL bestselling author and a leading voice in German psychological thrillers. In her thrillers, she explores how human emotions can escalate to deadly levels. With fascinating settings, sophisticated plots and psychologically balanced characters, she captivates German and international readers alike. Born in 1998, the author grew up near Leipzig, published her first books while studying and working, and then turned her passion into her profession. Emily Rudolf currently lives and writes in Nuremberg. Emily Rudolf’s thrillers have already been sold into Croatian (Fraktura), French (Lattès/ Le masque), Italian (Newton Compton Editori) and Norwegian (Cappelen Damm). Links & Contact: Head to our website to find a pdf of today’s sample (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/antje-ravik-strubel-blaue-frau-9783103971019)here (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/emily-rudolf-die-housesitterin-ein-traum-von-einem-job-oder-9783651025165). Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram ⁠@s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue ⁠here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app so you never miss an episode! Credits Text originally published as “Die Housesitterin – Ein Traum von einem Job. Oder?” by Emily Rudolf Translated and read by Alexandra Roesch Copyright © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2026 Photo of the author © Gaby Gerster Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

7. 

   9 Jan 2026

   Catch of the Day Ep. 9: »I'd Like to Go Back in Time« by Judith Hermann read by Katy Derbyshire

   Catch of the Day Ep. 9: »I'd Like to Go Back in Time« by Judith Hermann read by Katy Derbyshire In this episode, translator Katy Derbyshire reads her English sample of Judith Hermann’s »I'd Like to Go Back in Time«. To which places have the memories retreated? Judith Hermann follows the traces of her grandfather, who was stationed in Radom, Poland, during the war. She thinks about what effect the little knowledge and the speechlessness in the family had - and what influence it also had on her writing. From Poland, she travels to her sister in Naples and pursues remembering and forgetting in subsequent generations. In intermediate and undertones, Judith Hermann tracks down the voids and damages of every life, but brings us a little closer to the beauty hidden therein with her magical and magnetic stories. Praise for Judith Hermann: “Judith Hermann's books are unflinching explorations of human conditions." — Neue Zürcher Zeitung on Home “A master storyteller.” — The Independent, London on Summerhouse, Later “In the ‘Nobel Prize League’” — Frankfurter Rundschau on We'd Have Told Each Other Everything Judith Hermann was born in Berlin in 1970. Her debut story collection Summerhouse, Later (1998) was extremely well received. It was then followed in 2003 by the story collection Nothing But Ghosts, and several of the stories contained in the latter were adapted for film in 2007. In 2009, she published Alice, five short stories that received international acclaim. Her first novel, Where Love Beginns, came out in 2014. It was followed in 2016 by the short story collection Lettipark, which was awarded the Danish Blixen Prize for Short Stories. Hermann has received numerous awards for her work, including the Kleist Prize and the Friedrich Hölderlin Prize. Her novel Home was published in spring 2021. It was nominated for the Leipzig Book Fair Prize and received the Bremen Literature Prize in 2022. Most recently, S. Fischer published We'd Have Told Each Other Everything, based on the Frankfurt poetry lectures given by Judith Hermann in spring 2022. The author received the Wilhelm Raabe Literature Prize for this work. Judith Hermann lives and writes in Berlin. Head to our website to find a pdf of today’s sample (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/antje-ravik-strubel-blaue-frau-9783103971019)here (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/judith-hermann-ich-moechte-zurueckgehen-in-der-zeit-9783103977646). Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our ⁠website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram ⁠@s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue ⁠here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app to not miss the next episode! Credits Text originally published as “Ich möchte zurückgehen in der Zeit” by Judith Hermann Translated and read by Katy Derbyshire Copyright © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2026 Photo of the author © Andreas Reiberg Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

8. 

   26 Aug 2025

   Catch of the Day Ep. 8: »Such Sweet Sorrow« by Nora Haddada read by Fiona Graham

   In this episode, translator Fiona Graham reads an English sample of Nora Haddada’s »Such Sweet Sorrow«. When Julian spots Myriam in a Marseille karaoke bar, he can't look away. A conversation, a duet, and an illegal trip to the top of a construction site, their connection feels special. Myriam feels it too: this is different from anything she's ever experienced before. They are both young, well-read, critical and enchanted by the magic and lightheartedness of Marseille as backdrop to their love story. And yet, they lose touch when they return to their lives, Myriam to Paris and Julian to Berlin. Their paths cross again in Berlin when Myriam arrives for her PhD. But after October 7, a rift forms between them, with the lovers finding themselves on opposite political sides. In »Such Sweet Sorrow,« Nora Haddada masterfully weaves a tale of love, sex, political discourse, and the tragedy of our times. "Clever, profound, and subtly ironic (...) I couldn't put it down." - Benedict Wells Nora Haddada , born in 1998, studied Creative Writing and Literary Studies in Hildesheim, Berlin, and Paris. Her debut novel »Nichts in den Pflanzen« was published in 2023 by Ecco/HarperCollins. She lives in Berlin and Paris. Head to our website to find a longer sample translation here (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/nora-haddada-blaue-romanze-9783103977165). Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our ⁠website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram ⁠@s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue ⁠here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app to not miss the next episode! Credits Text originally published as “Blaue Romanze” by Nora Haddada Translated and read by Fiona Graham Copyright © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2025 Photo of the author © Olga Blackbird Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

9. 

   23 Apr 2025

   Catch of the Day Ep. 7 »18 Prisoners« by Liao Yiwu read by Chen Chen

   In this episode, translator Chen Chen reads a sample of Michael Martin Day’s English translation of Liao Yiwu’s »18 Prisoners«. Prisons serve as mirrors reflecting societal truths by unveiling its darker counterpart. The stories shared by those incarcerated offer distinct, countervailing narratives. Liao Yiwu, in his incarceration, gathered these life stories, piecing together an alternative narrative of China's history. Echoing the endeavors of Alexander Solzhenitsyn, he uncovers the grim realities within what he terms "the world's largest prison." »18 Prisoners« delves into the lives of not just 18 individuals, often incarcerated for their political beliefs, but also narrates 18 tales of escape. Each instance of escape—whether across towering mountains or vast seas—underscores that the human yearning for freedom, inventive spirit, and the indomitable drive to survive transcend political subjugation. Liao Yiwu, born in Sichuan province in 1958, grew up in great poverty. In 1989, he wrote the poem "Massacre", for which he was imprisoned for four years. In 2007, Liao Yiwu was awarded the Freedom to Write Prize from the Independent Chinese PEN Centre, the awarding of which was prevented at the last minute. Since then, he has published numerous books that have been translated into many languages, including »The Corpse Walker« (2009), »For a Song and a Hundred Songs« (2011), »Wuhan« (2022). He lives in Berlin. Head to our website to find a pdf of today’s sample (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/antje-ravik-strubel-blaue-frau-9783103971019)here (https://bilder-fischer.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/sampletranslations/9783103970784_english_translation.pdf). Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our ⁠website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram ⁠@s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue ⁠here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app to not miss the next episode! Credits Text originally published as “18個囚徒 18 Gefangene” by 廖亦武 Liao Yiwu Translated by Michael Martin Day, read by Chen Chen. Copyright © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2025 Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

10. 

    24 Feb 2025

    Catch of the Day Ep. 6: »Dark Moments« by Elisa Hoven read by Alexandra Roesch

    In this episode, translator Alexandra Roesch reads an English sample of Elisa Hoven’s »Dark Moments«. This absorbing debut novel draws from Elisa Hoven’s experience as a professor of criminal law and high-court judge. Nine cases unfold as gripping legal dramas, exploring moral and ethical dilemmas through the lens of law and justice. »Dark Moments« takes the reader into the world of protagonist and narrator, Eva Herbergen, a seasoned defence lawyer from Berlin, as she unravels the complexities of the human condition in a captivating array of legal quandaries that shape and test her resolve. Each tale is woven with unforeseen twists and revelations. From rape to fraud, assault to murder, each case challenges conventional notions of right and wrong, blurring the lines and forcing Eva Herbergen to confront her own issues from the past. As she explores the intricate web of moral ambiguity, her resolve is tested, and her boundaries are constantly pushed. Elisa Hoven (1982) is a professor of criminal law at the University of Leipzig. Her research focuses on German and international criminal law, economic criminal law, media criminal law, and sexual criminal law. Since 2020, she has also been a judge at the Saxon Constitutional Court. She has worked in Australia, Cambodia, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States during her various academic and research endeavors. Rights to the title have so far been sold to: Czech Republic (Alpress), Italy (Neri Pozza), Japan (Tokyo Sogensha), Netherlands (Thomas Rap), Norway (Bonnier Norsk), Spain (Maeva). Head to our website to find a pdf of today’s sample here (https://bilder-fischer.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/sampletranslations/9783103976694_english_translation.pdf). Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our ⁠website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram ⁠@s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue ⁠here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app to not miss the next episode! Credits Text originally published as “Dunkle Momente” by Elisa Hoven Translated and read by Alexandra Roesch Copyright © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2025 Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

11. 

    28 Jan 2025

    Catch of the Day Ep. 5: »The Dangers Facing Democracy« by Thomas Mann read by Simon Pare

    In this episode, translator Simon Pare reads Thomas Mann’s essay »The Dangers Facing Democracy« from »In Defense of Democracy« which compiles all of Thomas Mann's relevant speeches and essays on democracy for the first time in one volume. "It has become a questionable matter with the self-evidence of democracy around the world." This remark does not stem from a comment on the current political situation but from Thomas Mann's lecture "On the Future Victory of Democracy" from 1938. It's no coincidence that Thomas Mann is being rediscovered in the present as a passionate defender of democracy. He personally experienced how tenuous this form of government and its associated culture can be through the destruction of the Weimar Republic. Thomas Mann remains astoundingly relevant, particularly because he also understands democracy as a way of life: as a practice in gracefully dealing with plurality. Thomas Mann, (1875 - 1955) is one of the 20th century’s most significant writers. He is credited with bringing the German novel to the international stage, and his multifaceted works have received a worldwide positive reception which has rarely been equalled. From 1933 onwards, he lived in exile, first in Switzerland, then in the US. Only in 1952 did Mann return to Europe, where he died in 1955 in Zurich. Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our ⁠website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram ⁠@s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app to not miss the next episode! Credits Text originally published as “In Defense of Democracy” by Thomas Mann Read by Simon Pare Copyright © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2025 Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

12. 

    13 Dec 2024

    Catch of the Day Ep. 4: »Burning Fields« by Reinhard Kaiser-Mühlecker read by Alexandra Roesch

    Translator Alexandra Roesch reads from Austrian writer Reinhard Kaiser-Mühlecker's prize-winning novel »Burning Fields«, a powerful exploration of identity, family secrets, and the burdens of the past.

13. 

    11 Oct 2024

    Catch of the Day Ep. 3: »Message in A Bottle from Life« by Patricia Koelle read by Charlie Wührer

    In this episode, translator Charlie Wührer reads an English sample of Patricia Koelle’s bestseller »Message in A Bottle from Life«. Pixie is a fantasy author. Recently she has become dissatisfied because her writing is stagnating. So she accepts an offer to research the history of an old ship in a bottle for a magazine. The search takes her to harbours on the East Friesland North Sea coast, where she meets Feeke - the granddaughter of a woman who once influenced the shipbuilder Captain Flömer with her affection and wisdom. Pixie falls in love with the historic Gulfhof farm where Feeke lives. But the farm is in trouble. To save it, Pixie researches other ships in bottles and discovers her true calling in the process. Rights to Patricia Koelle's Forest of Longing (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/patricia-koelle-der-klang-des-windes-9783596708482) series have been sold to: Netherlands (Oceaan) Head to our website to find a pdf of today’s sample here (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/patricia-koelle-flaschenpost-vom-leben-9783596709892). Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our ⁠website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram ⁠@s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue ⁠here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app to not miss the next episode! Credits Text originally published as “Flaschenpost vom Leben” by Patricia Koelle Translated and read by Charlie Wührer Copyright © 2024 Patricia Koelle © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2024 Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

14. 

    12 Sept 2024

    Catch of the Day Ep. 2: »The Projectionists« by Clemens Meyer read by Katy Derbyshire

    In this episode, translator Katy Derbyshire reads an English sample of Clemens Meyer’s »The Projectionists«. World English rights of »The Projectionists« have been sold to Fitzcarraldo Editions. Clemens Meyer is translated into Arabic, Croatian, Danish, English, French, Italian, Japanese, Macedonian, Serbian, Spanish, Swedish, Tamil and Turkish. »The Projectionists« is an epic tale about Europe's crises and the art of storytelling. From Leipzig to Belgrade, from the GDR to the People's Republic of Yugoslavia, from silver screen spectacles to adventure novels. Relentless and fast-paced, »The Projectionists« tells the story of our present being crushed by the past - and of incomparable characters: in the Velebit Mountains, a former partisan experiences the adventurous filming of Karl May's Winnetou film adaptations. Decades later, the brutal battles of the Yugoslavian wars take place in these very places - in the midst of it all, a group of young right-wing radicals from Dortmund experience the futility of their ideology. And in Leipzig, the texts of a former patient are discussed at a conference in a psychiatric clinic: How did he manage to disappear without a trace? Was he able to predict the future? And what links him to the world traveller Dr May, who was once also a patient at the clinic? Praise for »The Projectionists«: "Hit of the season" - Frankfurter Rundschau, Judith von Sternburg "A storyteller like no other." - Andreas Platthaus, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung "'Projection', however, is the decisive keyword for this autumn's most ambitious [...] German novel" - Andreas Platthaus, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung "gripping anti-violence and anti-war novel. With its subject matter and the art of storytelling, it is a novel from a different literary league" - der Freitag, Michael Hametner "An epic, an adventure novel" - SWR Kultur "As powerful as it is magnificent" - Focus "There's no question that Clemens Meyer has delivered a real masterpiece" - WDR 3 Kultur am Mittag, Mario Scalla "This is truly great storytelling." - Radio 3 - rbb, Nadine Kreuzahler Head to our website to find a pdf of today’s sample (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/antje-ravik-strubel-blaue-frau-9783103971019)here (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/clemens-meyer-die-projektoren-9783100022462). Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our ⁠website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram ⁠@s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue ⁠here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app to not miss the next episode! Credits Text originally published as “Die Projektoren” by Clemens Meyer Translated and read by Katy Derbyshire Copyright © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2024 Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

15. 

    8 Aug 2024

    Catch of the Day Ep. 1: »Blue Woman« by Antje Rávik Strubel read by Zaia Alexander

    Welcome to the first episode of S. Fischer’s Foreign Rights Podcast »Catch of the Day«! In this episode, translator Zaia Alexander reads an English sample of Antje Rávik Strubel’s German Book Prize winner »Blue Woman«. »Blue Woman« asks the question, do we have the right to remain silent? Adina grew up as the last teenager in her village in the Czech Giant Mountains. While attending a language course in Berlin, she meets a photographer named Rickie, who gets her an internship in an arts centre in the Uckermark region. After being raped by a German politician, she sets out on an odyssey that takes her across half of Europe. In the end, Adina is stranded in Helsinki where Leonides, an Estonian politician and member of the European parliament, becomes her emotional anchor. While he campaigns for human rights, Adina seeks a way out of her inner exile. »Blue Woman« is a stirring account of a young woman's struggle for integrity. On the road from the Czech Republic to Finland, to Estonia and Germany, her experiences reflect the recent power struggles between Eastern and Western Europe. Praise for »Blue Woman«: A little work of wonder in contemporary prose literature (...) masterly. —Fritz J. Raddatz, Die Welt A lyrical and always suspenseful novel about Europe, memory, violence, and love. —Deutsche Welle What seems straightforward and clear when summarized is unfolded by Strubel in all its complexity and contradictoriness: the power of trauma to annihilate one’s existence. —Die Welt [Strubel is] a master of interior states (…) From the very first pages of her gleaming novel, you’re irresistibly pulled into her story. —Süddeutsche Zeitung An incredibly multi-layered, intelligent, political, psychological novel. —rbb Kultur She has mastered the art of articulating what should be unspeakable without having to resort to hyperbolic language. —Bayerischer Rundfunk A gripping novel about the right to tell your own story: Antje Rávik Strubel’s Blue Woman is the portrait of a woman—and of Europe. —Der Tagesspiegel An incredibly complex and gripping book. —Deutschlandfunk Kultur Rights to the title have so far been sold to Arabic (Aser Al-Kotob), Croatian (Ljevak), Finnish (Minerva Kustannus), French (Les Escales), Italian (Voland), Korean (PADO), Spanish (De Conatus) and Latin-American Spanish (El Cuervo). Head to our website to find a pdf of today’s sample ⁠here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/rights/book/antje-ravik-strubel-blaue-frau-9783103971019). Send feedback and rights inquiries to ⁠foreignrights@fischerverlage.de⁠, or visit our ⁠website⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults) to find the right contact within our team for your territory. Follow us on Instagram ⁠@s.fischer.foreignrights⁠ (https://www.instagram.com/s.fischer.foreignrights/). Browse our latest rights guides and our online rights catalogue ⁠here⁠ (https://www.fischerverlage.de/verlag/foreign-rights-adults). Subscribe to »Catch of the Day« on your preferred podcast app to not miss the next episode! Credits Text originally published as “Blaue Frau” by Antje Rávik Strubel Translated and read by Zaia Alexander Copyright © S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, Frankfurt am Main 2021 Concept: Verena von Bassewitz, Martin Butz & Elisa Diallo Production, Editing & Sound Design: Martin Butz ⁠Impressum (https://www.fischerverlage.de/impressum) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

5,621,180

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

17

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

0

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.