Alice Austen
Alice Austen’s novel, 33 Place Brugmann, takes its name from the address of an apartment building in a prosperous Brussels neighborhood. Set in 1939, just as the Nazis occupy the city, and told in the shifting voices of the building’s residents, the novel explores what happens to individuals faced with the choice between loyalty to the regime and loyalty to each other, and reminds us of the power of love, courage and art in times of peril. Prior to publishing 33 Place Brugmann, Austen established herself as an acclaimed filmmaker and playwright. She is a past resident of the Royal Court Theatre and her internationally produced plays include Animal Farm (Steppenwolf Theatre), Water, Cherry Orchard Massacre, and Girls in the Boat. Austen won the John Cassavetes Award for her debut film Give Me Liberty. She studied creative writing under Seamus Heaney at Harvard, where she also received her JD, after which she moved to Brussels and lived on Place Brugmann. Austen currently lives in Milwaukee and is working on a new film and her next novel.
Crème de la WWII novel.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review).
“A vivid portrait of the world during WWII . . . Quite an accomplishment — full of pathos, suspense, and drenched in humanity.” — The Center for Fiction.
At the Festival
Alice Austen appears in 1 session in the archive.
2026 Festival: Video and Photos
Featuring Amity Gaige, Karen Russell, Alice Austen, Virginia Evans, Susanna Kwan, Daria Lavelle, Kyra Davis Lurie, Leila Mottley and Kathy Wang
Books
Copies of every title are available from Vroman's Bookstore at the festival.
33 Place Brugmann
Alice Austen’s novel, 33 Place Brugmann, takes its name from the address of an apartment building in a prosperous Brussels neighborhood. Set in 1939, just as the Nazis occupy the city, and told in the shifting voices of the building’s residents, the novel explores what happens to individuals faced with the choice between loyalty to the regime and loyalty to each other, and reminds us of the power of love, courage and art in times of peril. Prior to publishing 33 Place Brugmann, Austen established herself as an acclaimed filmmaker and playwright.