Viola Rohner
Argentina | Literature
Literature
Writer Viola Rohner intends to work on her next novel, «Vaterland», during her stay in Argentina. The book is a large-scale family story that focuses on a Swiss merchant family that has cultivated international business relationships over generations. It begins with grandfather Kern, who runs a colonial goods store in a small village in Appenzellerland and continues to his grandchildren Ferno and Bruno, who both work for a large Swiss tobacco goods company and start new business ventures on the Canary Islands and in Buenes Aires, in the 1970’s. On many levels, the novel deals with Switzerland’s international business ties and their consequences, which still receive far too little attention in public discourse. The author aims to interview Argentinians to understand their experiences and perspectives about the country during the period the novel takes place. Besides the book, Viola, who’s also a playwright, wants to connect with the theatre scene in Buenos Aires.
Viola Rohner [CH] studied German literature, history and theatre studies and lives in Zurich. She worked many years as a high school teacher. Today she directs the creative writing course at the Adult Education Center in Zurich. She writes prose and plays for adults, young people and children and has received various grants and awards. Her recent publication for adults is the collection of short stories «42 Grad» (Lenos, 2018) and the theatre play for children «How Grandfather Learned to Swim» (Theater Neubad Lucerne, 2019).
