Books that Travel 2025
Looking back over the German-language books translated into English and published during 2024 is inspiring. The range of voices, themes, and genres showcases an exciting and evolving literary landscape that reflects the complexities of our world. Selecting just thirty-one books to appear in this compilation was not a straightforward task. Writers from Austria, Germany and Switzerland have captured readers' attention with their explorations of various subjects, including identity, migration, politics, and the human condition.
Through these translations, English-speaking readers can engage with powerful narratives that broaden our understanding not only of the world around us but also of the contemporary German-language cultural fabric. We hope these books will continue to be enjoyed by readers in many countries. As we celebrate these German-language books published in English translation, we look forward to those that will follow in the years to come, bringing German-language culture and creativity to the e-readers and bookshelves of English-speaking readers. Reading beyond our own borders feels more important than ever in fostering a deeper understanding of the issues, struggles, and joys we share as a global community.
Single title
Peter Wohlleben offers 50 fun ideas for outdoor adventures, from forest explorations to backyard discoveries, encouraging kids to embrace nature...
Peter Wohlleben offers 50 fun ideas for outdoor adventures, from forest explorations to backyard discoveries, encouraging kids to embrace nature in any weather. With games, survival tips, and challenges, it's a guide for hands-on experiences and discoveries with friends or family.
English Edition
Pages 100
ISBN 978-1771649698
Publisher Greystone Kids
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Children’s/young adult book
- ISBN:
- 978-3-7512-0201-5
- Author:
- Peter Wohlleben, translated by Jane Billinghurst
- Pages:
- 96
- Price:
- € 12.00
In the 1920s, the Gulf of Naples attracted European intellectuals, including Adorno and Benjamin, who were deeply influenced by its...
In the 1920s, the Gulf of Naples attracted European intellectuals, including Adorno and Benjamin, who were deeply influenced by its landscape and culture. Martin Mittelmeier’s book explores how Naples became the birthplace of the Frankfurt School.
English Edition
Pages 200
ISBN 978-0300259308
Publisher Yale University Press
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Non-fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-8275-0031-1
- Author:
- Martin Mittelmeier, translated by Shelley Frisch
- Pages:
- 304
- Price:
- € 14.00
Thirteen-year-old Vincent has the ability to jump into paintings, and when a valuable artwork is stolen, he sets out to...
Thirteen-year-old Vincent has the ability to jump into paintings, and when a valuable artwork is stolen, he sets out to find it. Along the way, he meets Holly, who can also jump inside artworks, and together they race to find the stolen painting, The Thunderstorm.
English Edition
Pages 150
ISBN 978-1646900299
Publisher Arctis
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Children’s/young adult book
- ISBN:
- 978-3-96177-121-9
- Author:
- Christina Wolff, translated by Claire Storey
- Pages:
- 256
- Price:
- € 16.00
Katja Lange-Müller creates a poignant account of an unhappy love story that evolves into profound happiness. Set in 1980s Berlin,...
Katja Lange-Müller creates a poignant account of an unhappy love story that evolves into profound happiness. Set in 1980s Berlin, her novel blends sensitivity and humour to paint a vivid portrait of the divided city's atmosphere.
English Edition
Pages 180
ISBN 978-1803094014
Publisher Seagull Books
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-462-30113-7
- Author:
- Katja Lange-Müller, translated by Simon Pare
- Pages:
- 208
- Price:
- € 16.95
Two brothers grapple with their past and the legacy of their father in Jackie Thomae’s novel. Mick lives a carefree...
Two brothers grapple with their past and the legacy of their father in Jackie Thomae’s novel. Mick lives a carefree life in 90s Berlin until he faces the end of his hedonistic ways, while Gabriel’s career success unravels after a mundane incident tips him over the edge.
English language edition
512 pages
ISBN 978-1838221584
Publisher: DAS EDITIONS
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-446-26415-1
- Author:
- Jackie Thomae, translated by Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp
- Pages:
- 432
- Price:
- € 12.00
In concentrated language and compellingly beautiful images, Mayröcker presents in this cahier a life that follows one maxim: "Not just...
In concentrated language and compellingly beautiful images, Mayröcker presents in this cahier a life that follows one maxim: "Not just what is written, but existence, too, must be poetic."
English Edition
Pages 212
ISBN 978-1803093260
Publisher Seagull Books
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Poetry
- ISBN:
- 978-3-518-42446-9
- Author:
- Friederike Mayröcker, translated by Donna Stonecipher
- Pages:
- 192
- Price:
- € 19.95
In 1966 Vienna, Robert Simon runs a café where customers' lives intertwine, fostering hope, romance, and friendship. The Café with...
In 1966 Vienna, Robert Simon runs a café where customers' lives intertwine, fostering hope, romance, and friendship. The Café with No Name is a moving story about community, kindness, and the extraordinary within everyday life.
English Edition
Pages 224
ISBN 978-1837260140
Publisher Canongate
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-546-10032-8
- Author:
- Robert Seethaler, translated by Katy Derbyshire
- Pages:
- 288
- Price:
- € 25.00
In The Gift, Milan Berg, unable to read due to alexia, witnesses a frightened girl in danger and embarks on...
In The Gift, Milan Berg, unable to read due to alexia, witnesses a frightened girl in danger and embarks on a desperate search to save her, only to uncover a horrifying truth. This psychological thriller has a twisty, non-linear storyline that charts one man's descent into a real-life nightmare.
English Edition
Pages 368
ISBN 978-1804542460
Publishe Head of Zeus -- an Aries Book
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Thriller
- ISBN:
- 978-3-426-30849-3
- Author:
- Sebastian Fitzek, translated by Jamie Bulloch
- Pages:
- 368
- Price:
- € 16.99
Neumahr's work explores the Nuremberg Trials through the eyes of renowned writers and journalists, capturing their personal experiences and struggles...
Neumahr's work explores the Nuremberg Trials through the eyes of renowned writers and journalists, capturing their personal experiences and struggles in the press camp.
English Edition
Pages 352
ISBN 978-1805330691
Publisher Pushkin Press
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Non-fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-406-79145-1
- Author:
- Uwe Neumahr, translated by Jefferson Chase
- Pages:
- 320
- Price:
- € 16.00
Sixteen-year-old Frieder's summer plans are upset when he must resit exams. He faces a summer of study at his grandparents'...
Sixteen-year-old Frieder's summer plans are upset when he must resit exams. He faces a summer of study at his grandparents' house. Amidst the challenges, he finds friendship, first love, and transformative moments that shape his life.
English Edition
Pages 300
ISBN 978-1916788183
Publisher Orenda Books
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-8321-8153-6
- Author:
- Ewald Arenz, translated by Rachel Ward
- Pages:
- 320
- Price:
- € 14.00
An isolated woman clashes with an enigmatic visitor in this funny, jagged parable about integration, difference and hospitality. ...
An isolated woman clashes with an enigmatic visitor in this funny, jagged parable about integration, difference and hospitality.
English Edition
Pages 208 (UK), 176 (US)
ISBN 978-1805330165 (UK), 9781948980197 (US)
Publisher Pushkin Press (UK), Dorothy (US)
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-518-12784-1
- Author:
- Ariane Koch, translated by Damion Searls
- Pages:
- 179
- Price:
- € 14.00
From the author of the international bestseller The Reader, The Granddaughter is a riveting novel that takes the reader from...
From the author of the international bestseller The Reader, The Granddaughter is a riveting novel that takes the reader from the divided Germany of the 1960s to modern-day Australia, asking what might be found when it seems like all is lost.
English Edition
Pages 336
ISBN 978-1399614887
Publisher Orion Publishing Co (UK), HarperVia (USA)
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-257-07181-8
- Author:
- Bernhard Schlink, translated by Charlotte Collins
- Pages:
- 368
- Price:
- € 14.00
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists behind the Panama Papers, this book follows their mission to expose the truth about Karl...
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists behind the Panama Papers, this book follows their mission to expose the truth about Karl Lee, one of the world's most wanted men. The journalists track Karl Lee's businesses and companies, uncovering an intricate web of warfare and espionage. As they dig deeper, they realise Lee is a mere pawn in a much larger international game.
English Edition
Pages 288
ISBN 978-1915590695
Publisher Scribe
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Non-fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-462-00139-6
- Author:
- Christoph Giesen, Philipp Grüll, Frederik Obermaier, Bastian Obermayer, translated by Simon Pare
- Pages:
- 272
- Price:
- € 20.00
Fatma Aydemir explores the lives of characters who are strikingly different from one another, yet united by a deep yearning...
Fatma Aydemir explores the lives of characters who are strikingly different from one another, yet united by a deep yearning to be understood. The novel does not unfold in a linear fashion; instead, it weaves through memories, unspoken traumas, and hidden pasts. Aydemir reveals how we all wrestle with concepts of power and beauty, the voids in our lives, and the unseen demons that linger in the background.
English Edition
Pages 368 (UK), 298 (USA)
ISBN 978-1-916806-02-3 (UK), 978-0299349240 (USA)
Publisher Peirene Press (UK), University of Wisconsin Press (USA)
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-423-08686-8
- Author:
- Fatma Aydemir, translated by Jon Cho-Polizzi
- Pages:
- 368
- Price:
- € 13.00
Darkenbloom is a sweeping novel of exiled counts, Nazis-turned-Soviet-enforcers, secret marriages, mislabelled graves, remembrance, guilt, and the devastating power of...
Darkenbloom is a sweeping novel of exiled counts, Nazis-turned-Soviet-enforcers, secret marriages, mislabelled graves, remembrance, guilt, and the devastating power of silence, by one of Austria’s most significant contemporary writers.
English Edition
Pages 480
ISBN 978-1914484407
Publisher Scribe
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-462-04790-5
- Author:
- Eva Menasse, translated by Charlotte Collins
- Pages:
- 528
- Price:
- € 25.00
A story of emancipation, love, and empathy, A Simple Procedure tells the story of a young nurse, Meret, who questions...
A story of emancipation, love, and empathy, A Simple Procedure tells the story of a young nurse, Meret, who questions the dehumanising effect of a medical procedure on its female patients. It also explores Meret’s intense, transformative love for another nurse.
English Edition
Pages 192
ISBN 978-1-908670-87-8
Publisher Peirene Press
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-446-27231-6
- Author:
- Yael Inokai, translated by Marielle Sutherland
- Pages:
- 192
- Price:
- € 22.00
Angela Merkel's long-awaited memoir offers a reflection on her 16 years as Chancellor of Germany, navigating crises and shaping global...
Angela Merkel's long-awaited memoir offers a reflection on her 16 years as Chancellor of Germany, navigating crises and shaping global politics. Co-written with Beate Baumann, she recounts her life in both East and reunified Germany, including her childhood, pivotal moments like the fall of the Berlin Wall, and key political decisions.
English Edition
Pages 720
ISBN 978-1035020751
Publisher Pan Macmillan
- Publisher:
- ISBN:
- 978-3-462-00513-4
- Author:
- Angela Merkel, Beate Baumann, translated by Jo Heinrich, Sharon Howe, Lucy Jones, Ruth Martin, Simon Pare, Jamie Lee Searle, Alice Tetley-Paul and Shaun Whiteside
- Pages:
- 736
- Price:
- € 42.00
Germany, 1918: After World War I, the monarchy falls and democracy rises with the Weimar Republic. Amid political and economic...
Germany, 1918: After World War I, the monarchy falls and democracy rises with the Weimar Republic. Amid political and economic turbulence, traditional values are questioned as new lifestyles and freedoms materialise, especially for women. A backlash from those excluded grows, leading to deep divisions that would shape history.
English Edition
Pages 480
ISBN 978-0753559963
Publisher WH Allen
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Non-fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-7371-0081-6
- Author:
- Harald Jähner, translated by Shaun Whiteside
- Pages:
- 560
- Price:
- € 34.00
Glorious People tells the story of two women finding their way through the upheaval of the Soviet Union’s collapse. Sasha...
Glorious People tells the story of two women finding their way through the upheaval of the Soviet Union’s collapse. Sasha Salzmann vividly portrays the trauma passed down to future generations in this powerful exploration of motherhood and personal struggle.
English Edition
Pages 336
ISBN 978-1782279501
Publisher Pushkin Press
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Fiction
- ISBN:
- 978-3-518-43010-1
- Author:
- Sasha Salzmann, translated by Imogen Taylor
- Pages:
- 384
- Price:
- € 24.00
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Michael Krüger was suffering from severe shingles and just beginning treatment for leukemia. Because his...
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Michael Krüger was suffering from severe shingles and just beginning treatment for leukemia. Because his immune system was compromised, he had to stay away from people. He retired to a wooden house near Lake Starnberg in Germany and from there he dispatched his poetic messages.
English Edition
Pages 124
ISBN 978-1803093307
Publisher Seagull Books
- Publisher:
- Topic:
- Poetry
- ISBN:
- 978-3-518-43005-7
- Author:
- Michael Krüger, translated by Karen Leeder
- Pages:
- 116
- Price:
- € 24.00
Contact
New Books in German promotes German-language literature for translation into English in the UK, USA, and beyond. We feature recommendations of the best new fiction and non-fiction titles from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. We publish articles and information on books, authors, and those who translate or work with them.
