Bestselling author presents her Hamburg saga "The Women of Jungfernstieg"

On Thursday, 16 November, the popular author Lena Johannson and stage poet HannaH Rau will present a staged reading from the trilogy "Die Frauen vom Jungfernstieg". The Bocholt-Rhede-Isselburg Adult Education Centre and the city library invite all interested parties to the reading.

In her Hamburg saga, Lena Johannson tells the story of the pharmacist Oscar Troplowitz around 1890, where the Jewish entrepreneur, who was keen to improve working conditions and develop innovative entrepreneurial ideas, struggled to be recognised by the people of Hamburg.

Over the years, Oscar Troplowitz succeeded in turning the small Beiersdorf laboratory into a globally active group. He also became involved in the city council and campaigned for more investment in education and for Hamburg to have a city park and a university. Last but not least, he supported Hamburg artists and left the city a magnificent collection of artworks.

The historical saga tells the story from the perspective of three women from Oscar Troplowitz's private circle. Lena Johannson changes the narrative perspective and alternates with the stage poet HannaH Rau in the roles of the main female characters. In this way, the characters take shape and the audience is whisked away to the original Hamburg locations.

Bestselling author with a broad literary profile

Trained as a bookseller, Lena Johannson can look back on many interesting stages in her life and several very successful novels. As well as working in the theatre, as a freelance travel journalist and the first Hallig writer, she is a member of the "Syndikat" group of authors. She lives with her husband near Lübeck and on the Baltic Sea.

Registration at the VHS and city library

The event will take place on 16 November at 7.30 pm in the city library. Admission begins at 7 pm. The reading is supported by the Förderverein der Volkshochschule Bocholt-Rhede-Isselburg, Stadtbibliothek and JUNGE UNI in Bocholt as well as the Seitenblick bookshop. Tickets are available in advance for 9 euros at www.vhs-bocholt.de, at the VHS office or in the city library, or for 10 euros at the box office.