Moments of the Republic

Discover the history of the Republic through extraordinary photographs! Tarek Leitner brings historical events to life through images: Often, it is images that tell us about history . But what happens when we look beyond the obvious, when we focus not only on iconic photographs of major events? What stories lie hidden behind seemingly unremarkable moments?

In his new book, Tarek Leitner—one of Austria’s best-known and most beloved television hosts —unfolds the history of the Second Republic in a completely new way. His starting point is a collection of unusual photographs taken behind the scenes of major historical events, which often seem puzzling at first glance. Tarek Leitner unravels the hidden stories behind these images, weaving them together with personal experiences to reveal a surprisingly multifaceted view of Austria from the postwar era to the present —one that goes far beyond the usual historical milestones.

With his distinctive narrative style and keen intuition, Leitner succeeds in bringing both the major turning points and the small, often-overlooked details to life. Let yourself be swept away on a journey into a story that is much more than just history—it is part of our shared identity.

Tarek Leitner is the anchor of “Zeit im Bild,” Austria’s most-watched news program; a three-time Romy Award winner for most popular host; a law graduate; and the author of numerous bestsellers. Through Brandstätter Verlag, he has published “Mut zur Schönheit” (2012), “Wo leben wir denn?” (2015), “Hilde & Gretl” (2018), “Berlin–Linz” (2020), and most recently “Im Siebten” (2022).