Speech by John le Carré (2011) at the Ullstein Fest in Berlin

The speech was give on the 10th of September 2011. It concerns the German publishing world, and how it compares with the British and American equivalents.

The Ullstein Buchverlage, a prominent publishing house in Berlin, hosts an annual summer festival known as the "Ullstein Sommerfest." This event, held in the garden of their Berlin headquarters, brings together authors, readers, and literary enthusiasts to celebrate literature and foster cultural exchange.

The festival features readings, discussions, and musical performances, providing a platform for authors to present their latest works and engage with the audience. For instance, the 2024 Sommerfest, held on May 29, centered on the theme of friendship and understanding, featuring discussions with authors like Omri Boehm and Asal Dardan.

In addition to their own summer festival, Ullstein Buchverlage collaborates with other literary organizations. On September 3, 2023, they partnered with the Literarisches Colloquium Berlin (LCB) to host a summer festival at the Großer Wannsee. This event featured readings, discussions, and performances, including a children's program by author Marc-Uwe Kling.

These festivals underscore Ullstein Buchverlage's commitment to promoting literature and facilitating dialogue within the global literary community.