ARTE literature tips
As part of its membership in the network of literature houses with ARTE as a cultural partner, the Literaturhaus recommends monthly programs in the ARTE media library.
Literature on ARTE
Until March 10, 2026, on arte.tv
Miss Austen
Miniseries, GB 2024
England, 1830: 13 years after Jane Austen's death, her sister Cassandra sets out to preserve the writer's reputation. She searches for a bundle of letters written by Jane – because Mary Austen, her brother's widow, is planning to publish them. The series paints a touching portrait of two sisters whose close bond fluctuates between duty, memory, and hidden pain. A multi-layered drama unfolds across several time periods, exploring loyalty, female self-determination, and the price of literary immortality.
Until March 14, 2026 on arte.tv
Jane Austen – Literature and Passion
Portrait, Germany/UK 2025 Jane Austen was
born 250 years ago, on December 16, 1775. The British writer's career was exemplary, and her major works, Pride and Prejudice and Emma, are among the classics of English literature. The portrait tells the story of the vicar's daughter's life and delves into the world of her novels, whose heroines are mainly young women of marriageable age. Today, Austen's works enjoy great popularity and multimedia presence.
Until May 31, 2026 on arte.tv
Rilke – You Must Change Your
Life Cultural documentary, Germany 2025
Born in Prague in 1875, Rainer Maria Rilke became the European poet par excellence during his lifetime. Today, pop stars such as Lady Gaga wear his verses as tattoos. The documentary tells how Rilke struggled for years to complete his magnum opus, "Duino Elegies."
Until June 21, 2026, on arte.tv
Novel, Sex & Satire: "Portnoy's Complaints"
Cultural documentary, France 2025
In 1969, Philip Roth's novel "Portnoy's Complaints" caused a literary and social earthquake. This scandalous and hilarious confessional novel breaks taboos relating to sexuality, guilt, and Jewish religion and culture. Condemned as obscene by some, praised as a masterpiece by others, it divided the US and turned its author into a controversial icon. But would the book still cause a scandal if it were published today?
At arte.tv/literature, you can watch more documentaries on scandalous novels in world literature, including "Uncle Tom's Cabin" by Harriet Beecher Stowe, "The Art of Pleasure" by Goliarda Sapienza, and "Scandalous Loves" by Choderlos de Laclos.