“Assault on the Border: Questions for Our Times”

Reading and Conversation 

Moderated by Dr. Julia Encke 

Join acclaimed French-Moroccan author Leïla Slimani for an evening of reading and conversation, moderated by Dr. Julia Encke. Through selected readings and an engaging discussion, Slimani will explore themes that shape our world today, including identity, migration, racism, feminism, and the lasting impact of colonial history. 

Drawing on her own experiences of growing up between Morocco and France, and writing in both Arabic and French, Slimani reflects on what it means to belong to more than one culture. She also examines the borders that divide us, both real and symbolic, and the challenges of living in an increasingly divided world. 

The evening offers a chance to hear Slimani's thoughts on these issues in her own words and to explore the role of literature in bringing people together, challenging assumptions, and creating space for different perspectives. 

Leïla Slimani is widely regarded as one of France's most important contemporary literary voices. Born in Rabat in 1981, she grew up in Morocco and studied at Sciences Po in Paris. She was awarded the prestigious Prix Goncourt for her novel The Perfect Nanny (German title: Dann schlaf auch du). Her other works include the bestselling novels In the Country of Others, Watch Us Dance, and Trag das Feuer weiter, part of a trilogy inspired by her family history.