Jana Hensel in Schwerin: Reading from Once Upon a Time There Was a Country

A literary evening about East Germany, democracy, and the strains of the present

With Once Upon a Time There Was a Country, Jana Hensel comes to the city library of the state capital Schwerin on September 11, 2026, and opens an evening that goes far beyond the classic reading. The author and journalist reads from a text that seismographically measures the political and emotional state of East Germany and poses the question of why so many people have distanced themselves from democratic certainties. The event begins at 19:30, moderated by Gitta Lindemann. ([schwerin.de](https://www.schwerin.de/kultur-tourismus/event/es-war-einmal-ein-land-warum-sich-der-osten-von-der-demokratie-verabschiedet/))

Jana Hensel: a precise voice in the literary discourse

Jana Hensel, born in 1976 in Leipzig, gained recognition with Zonenkinder and has shaped the debate over East German identity, memory, and societal transformation for years. On the author's page of Rowohlt she is presented as a journalist and widely published author; she has been awarded the Theodor-Wolff-Prize and recognized as Journalist of the Year for her reporting on East Germany. Her new book is connected to this expertise and combines reportage, analysis, and literary quality into a compelling read of the present. ([rowohlt.de](https://www.rowohlt.de/autor/jana-hensel-731))

Reading atmosphere in the Schwerin city library

The Schwerin city library is a modern municipal library located in the Schweriner Höfen at Klöresgang 3. The place connects literature, public life, and urban culture in a compact space and creates precisely that intimate reading atmosphere where large political questions suddenly become personal. For visitors, it is a literary experience with immediate proximity to the author, supported by language, voice, and conversation. The library is listed on the municipal information pages and in the Schwerin portal with the same address and contact structure. ([schwerin.de](https://www.schwerin.de/kultur-tourismus/kunst-kultur/volkshochschule-literatur-bibliotheken-vhs/stadtbibliothek/wir-ueber-uns/))

A theme that goes beneath the surface

Once Upon a Time There Was a Country addresses not only memory but also the present, right-wing drift, and the loss of trust in democratic processes. The accompanying event text describes the book as a journey through an East that has distanced itself from familiar narratives; at the same time, the presentation points to the bestseller resonance and the literary relevance of the project in the run-up to political debates in East Germany. Thus, a reading arises that resonates culturally, journalistically, and literarily at once. ([aufbau-verlage.de](https://www.aufbau-verlage.de/aufbau/veranstaltung/jana-hensel-es-war-einmal-ein-land-11))

Admission, book sales, and practical information

Admission costs 13.00 euros in advance and 15.00 euros at the box office. Advance sales start on August 17, 2026, at the city library, Klöresgang 3. The event takes place in the city library of the state capital Schwerin; a book signing is not explicitly confirmed in the available material. Those who appreciate literary evenings with societal depth will experience an author encounter that resonates and provides material for discussion. ([schwerin.de](https://www.schwerin.de/kultur-tourismus/event/es-war-einmal-ein-land-warum-sich-der-osten-von-der-demokratie-verabschiedet/))

Conclusion: Those who hear Jana Hensel live experience not just a simple reading but a precisely composed evening about language, memory, and the fractures of democracy. In Schwerin, literary analysis meets political present. A visit is particularly worthwhile for all who wish to experience literature as a space for thought. ([schwerin.de](https://www.schwerin.de/kultur-tourismus/event/es-war-einmal-ein-land-warum-sich-der-osten-von-der-demokratie-verabschiedet/))

Official channels of Jana Hensel:

• Instagram: No official profile found
• Facebook: No official profile found
• Website: https://www.rowohlt.de/autor/jana-hensel-731
• Publisher: https://www.rowohlt.de

Sources:

• State Capital Schwerin - Event: Once Upon a Time There Was a Country
• Rowohlt Publishing - Jana Hensel
• Aufbau Publishing - Jana Hensel Once Upon a Time There Was a Country
• State Capital Schwerin - Schwerin City Library
• Visit Mecklenburg-Vorpommern - City Library of the State Capital Schwerin
• State Capital Schwerin - Barrier-Free Schwerin PDF