Does Pippi Longstocking have to die? What does Cancel Culture mean for literature?

No reasonable person wants to ban literature – or do they? The discussions are getting more heated. How do we deal with racist stereotypes in literary classics? Do we still want to read a book if serious moral accusations are raised against its author? Is a new censorship really looming, as some fear? For some, canceling is a necessary step in the fight against discrimination, while for others it is a specter that threatens artistic freedom. What is clear is that the debate touches not only on a core aspect of literature but also on our coexistence. It is a necessary dispute – one that the authors of this volume explore thoughtfully, incisively, and from various perspectives.

With contributions from Asal Dardan, Adrian Daub, Hanna Engelmeier, Jürgen Kaube, Konrad Paul Liessmann, Ijoma Mangold, Lothar Müller, Mithu Sanyal, Marie Schmidt, Johannes Schneider, Anna-Lena Scholz, and Daniela Strigl.