9 February 2026  A book premiere where literature meets real lifeIn January 2026, Austrian writer Julya Rabinowich released her new youth novel Mo & Moritz (written in German) with Hanser Verlag. The book will soon be presented to a Vienna audience in a setting closely linked to its story. The first Vienna reading and book premiere takes place on 17 February 2026 at the Steinmetz-Bundy Privatsalon on the Opernring, directly opposite the Vienna State Opera. The event is invitation only.The location is not accidental. The salon inspired Rabinowich while writing the novel and plays a key role in the life of the main character, Mo. In the book, the hair salon becomes a place of learning, protection and orientation – and the master hairdresser appears as a kind of guardian figure who offers stability in an uncertain phase of life. Between everyday reality, faith and first loveMo & Moritz tells the story of two teenage boys growing up in very different worlds. Mo comes from a family with Muslim roots and starts an apprenticeship in an exclusive Viennese hair salon. Through his work, he enters a glamorous environment that culminates behind the scenes of the Vienna Opera Ball. There he meets Moritz, who comes from a Jewish family. A quiet love story develops, shaped by attraction, fear, social pressure and unanswered questions about identity.Although the story is fictional, it is clearly inspired by real places and experiences in Vienna. Rabinowich describes the city as a space where very different lives intersect: migration and tradition, religion and modernity, privilege and insecurity. The world of fashion and style stands here for openness, encounter and the hope of living together beyond prejudice. An award-winning youth novel with a clear voiceThe book is recommended for readers aged 14 and above. In February 2026, Mo & Moritz was awarded Youth Book of the Month by the German Academy for Children's and Young Adult Literature. The award underlines the novel's relevance for young readers, its engagement with current social realities, and its focus on dialogue and coexistence across different cultural and religious backgrounds.Julya Rabinowich, born in 1970 in St. Petersburg and living in Vienna since childhood, is one of Austria's most important contemporary voices in youth literature. Her books often focus on migration, identity and growing up under complex social conditions. Several of her previous works have received major literary awards in Austria and Germany. Vienna, the Opera Ball and current literary contextsThe Vienna Opera Ball has recently appeared in several new publications discussed widely in Austrian media, including Angelika Hager's "Pardon, aber da schwimmt eine Leiche in der Schokolade" (Ueberreuter) and Stefanie Sargnagel's Opernball – Zu Besuch bei der Hautevolee.In contrast, Mo & Moritz approaches the topic indirectly and from a youthful perspective. Rather than focusing on spectacle, Rabinowich uses the Opera Ball as a symbol of social contrast – and as a meeting point where private lives briefly cross. The Steinmetz-Bundy Privatsalon, frequently featured on Fashion.at as an important reference for hair, style and ball culture, provides the real-life backdrop for this literary moment. Further readings in Austria and Germany are announced by Hanser Verlag on its website. Image: Cover of 'Mo & Moritz' by Julya Rabinowich, Hanser Verlag, published January 27, 2026 (German edition). Illustrated book cover showing two young figures in profile, painted in soft red tones against a light blue background, suggesting intimacy and reflection. |