Part of the Series “Poetographies: Literary Dialogues at the Zurich James Joyce Foundation.”
As an exiled author in Switzerland, Wagdy El Komy (originally from Egypt) has experienced first-hand the complexities of displacement and belonging in our current era.
In this talk, we will discuss two short stories recently published by Weiter Schreiben Schweiz, the platform for exiled authors in Switzerland, which deal specifically with the myth of Noah’s Ark and re-place it in the 21st century context of Western Europe’s asylum policies. With this act of rewriting, El Komy raises questions about solidarity, ethics as well as belonging that resonate with contemporary audiences and hold a critical mirror to xenophobic discourses in Western Europe, including Switzerland. We will discuss the value of literature and storytelling as a way of resisting such discourses.
- Place: Zurich James Joyce Foundation, Augustinergasse 9, 8001 Zurich
- Time: Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 6.30 p.m.
Tickets are free but places are limited. Please reserve your tickets via info@joycefoundation.ch.
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