One of the many attempts at explanation for the current political divide between urban and rural life is that the local village represents the losers of digital modernization and takes revenge on the globally oriented metropolis with scepticism towards science, irrationalism and anti-democratic attitudes. Since Donald Trump’s presidency, at the latest, the rural community is considered as the symbol of a reactionary revolt that is reflected in election results. The sociologist Lukas Haffert observes how vibrant cities attract well-educated, high-earning and tolerant people and that this optimistic elite contrasts with a rural population that feels its values and established rights are threatened and is at odds with modern economic and cultural change. In Haffert’s view, it’s about the winners and losers of economic modernization processes, about the winners and losers of the digital knowledge economy and thus about the consequences of the transition from the industrial to the knowledge-based society. Urban and rural areas are alienated from each other. Because of the dominance of the urban lifestyle, people who live in rural areas believe they are also culturally left behind. The rural and urban milieus are two sides of the dynamic of an ever-widening polarization.

A look at literary history reminds us that since the Old Testament verses about the Tower of Babel, epic tales, dramas, poems and novels recount disputes and conflicts between urban and rural areas. The building of the Tower of Babel is reported in just nine lines. They became a parable for the consequences of the exuberance of man’s inventiveness and, to this day, fictional narratives still have an affinity with them. A people (from the East), according to the biblical story, wanted to build a city and a tower whose top reached into the sky. God feared that nothing would remain unattainable for the people. Hence, he confused their speech and compelled them to stop work on the tower because they could no longer understand each other.

19th and 20th-century novel fiction devised a cultural history of urban and rural life, of rural depopulation and urbanization that went hand in hand with industrialization. A history of suppression as well as of opening, renewals and setbacks, emancipation, repression and migration. In this context, the European Literature Days 2024 introduce contemporary fictional works in which urban and rural life, progress, decline, conflict as well as the search for new forms of living play a central role. Divided World invites international authors and philosophers to introduce their books and to exchange ideas about the topics concerning urban-rural conflict as well as forms of living and coexistence in the future.

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The creative think tank of the European Literature Days follows its annual tradition to welcome an interested audience to Krems an der Donau for a weekend with writers and philosophers to debate a topical theme. For those who cannot visit Krems, the specially themed readings, talks and dialogues can also be watched via livestream from home. Festivalgoers in Krems can also attend book talks, performances and concerts in the Klangraum Minoritenkirche in Krems. The main focal point is inspiration, a love of literature and meeting international guests. In partnership with kulturkrems, Hidden Treasures (Verborgenes und Erlesenes) combines the discovery of cultural landmarks and gastronomy with the opportunity to meet the guest authors. In cooperation with the Festival Glatt & Verkehrt, Words and Sounds (Worte und Töne) offers the best of literature, music and theatre. The highlight and finale are once again the Sunday literary and musical matineé to celebrate the current prizewinner of the Austrian Book Trade’s Honorary Award for Tolerance in Thought and Action. In cooperation with the eljub European Youth Encounters, Jugend Kulturraum Krems and the Youth Section of Lower Austria, another full programme of readings and workshops will take place in regional schools.