Mathias Ospelt: crime fiction offers refuge in an unjust world

Mathias Ospelt: crime fiction offers refuge in an unjust world newspress_en Mon, 08/24/2026 - 05:27 Culture & Social Affairs From the picturesque principality of Liechtenstein, nestled between Switzerland and Austria, a tiny nation of over 40,000 inhabitants, has emerged as a fertile ground for the literary works of Mathias Ospelt, one of the country's most distinguished writers.

Ospelt, born in 1963, has cultivated a prolific career spanning novels, plays, political satire, and translation since graduating from the University of Freiburg with degrees in German and English literature. As a staunch advocate for his nation's cultural identity, Ospelt has played a pivotal role in shaping Liechtenstein's literary scene through his activism and leadership of PEN International, organizing the annual Liechtenstein Literature Days since 1996.

Ospelt's literary prowess reaches its zenith in his short story collection "Paths. Twists," where he masterfully weaves the country's geography into a captivating fictional world, intermingling myth, everyday reality, history, and crime. His novel "Ebaholz," a finalist for the 2026 European Union Prize for Literature, delves into a 1956 kidnapping case that shook Vaduz's tight-knit community, exposing the underlying social tensions beneath the veneer of unity.

In his latest work, "Guferwald: Kriminalroman," Ospelt continues to explore mysteries inspired by real events, beginning with the unsolved murder of an unidentified woman from 1974.

In an interview with Al Majalla, Ospelt discussed the profound influence of his upbringing in Vaduz, a small European principality, on his creative process. He emphasized the significance of spatial memory and ancient oral stories, or "Sagen," in shaping his writing. Ospelt explored the idea of creating new mythical tales based on contemporary events, hoping to stimulate imagination and foster a deeper understanding of historical parallels.

While he does not consciously employ spatial memory, his crime novels about Peter Kaiser rely heavily on his personal experiences and memories, effectively blending biographical elements to create a compelling narrative.

Ospelt's linguistic choices in his writing serve as a means to convey authenticity and enrich the storytelling experience. He alternates between Standard German and Vaduz dialect, even translating "Tin Tin" into the local vernacular while opting for Standard German in his novel "Ebaholz." Ospelt believes that the use of dialect can bring forth genuine emotions and ideas, even if it sometimes falls short in accurately capturing the nuances of everyday conversation.

He stresses the importance of authenticity in contemporary literature, deriding the forced naturalism that pervades modern writing. For Ospelt, a well-crafted story is the ultimate tool in crafting a modern legend from the mundane details of a small community, evoking the timeless allure of ancient legends.