Jean-Philippe Kindler's Debut Novel Imagines Germany in 2029

Satirist, nonfiction author, and advisor for Die Linke Jean-Philippe Kindler has published his debut novel "Hier ist der Beginn und das Ende ist dort" (Here is the Beginning and the End is There). The book is set in 2029, during a snap federal election in Germany, with uncompromising political camps and right-wing militias roaming the streets. The protagonists Jonas and Estelle are emotionally frozen in their respective worlds: Jonas's father dies three days before the election, and Estelle works for the lead candidate's campaign team. Kindler uses childlike language to explore their silence and grief, ultimately delivering an uncynical verdict: "Screw realpolitik." The novel was selected for the list of best books in July 2026.