When George Orwell wrote his legendary novel 1984 just after WWII, he had in mind, among others, the Soviet regime of the time. Stalin was the model for Big Brother. 1984 was published in 1949, but the themes Orwell addressed are still extremely relevant today.

75 years after Orwell and 40 years after 1984, 7 contemporary authors write about a dystopian future. In Verboden brieven, Jens Meijen, Sara Eelen, Pieter Van de Walle, Eva Salman, Rashif El Kaoui, Moya De Feyter and Yousra Benfquih address totalitarian control, diluted truth and fake news, dehumanization, artificial thinking, and our planet flooding and burning up.

The illustrations in Verboden brieven are the result of visual artist Victor Verhelst's research into the imagery of old stamps and the possibilities of reinterpretation by AI.

Verboden Brieven will be published by Klein Uitgeverij on August 22 and presented in Amor on October 1. Jens Meijen, Sara Eelen, Pieter Van de Walle, Rashif El Kaoui, Moya De Feyter and Yousra Benfquih will read from their contributions to the book and engage in conversation with host and literature enthusiast Will-Limba Moleka of reading club Read & Relax Together.

The readings will be accompanied by Victor Verhelst's images and a soundscape by Mathieu Serruys.

The entry ticket for this book presentation offers 5 euros discount when purchasing the book on this evening.