Reading "The Optimists" with Gün Tank

"The Optimists" tells the story of young Nour, who comes to Germany from Istanbul in the 1970s to work. She is one of many guest workers who, full of hope and drive, seek their place in a new country. In the hostel in the Upper Palatinate, Nour meets women from Spain, Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. While the Upper Palatinate women in the village still wear headscarves, the young migrant women go out in miniskirts and work in the factory during the day - often under difficult conditions and for low wages.

Inspired by the women's strike in Thuringia in the 1920s, Nour begins to fight for the rights of female workers together with her friends. Gün Tank's novel pays tribute to the women who were instrumental in Germany's upswing and transformation, but whose stories are rarely told. She portrays strong, courageous women and gives them a voice.

The story is based on numerous interviews that Gün Tank conducted with women from the first generation of migrant workers. Many of them came to Germany alone, became breadwinners for their families and campaigned politically for better working conditions. The author has been campaigning against racism, sexism and classism for decades and her book makes the often forgotten realities of these women's lives visible.

The reading offers the opportunity to talk to Gün Tank and find out more about the background to her novel and the history of female guest workers in Germany. All students, staff and interested parties are cordially invited to attend.