Tobias Bärtsch & Rachel TonThat

Literary translations of Swiss folklore

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Die Alp an sich is a bilingual collection of literary translations of Swiss folklore from the Sarganserland region by Tobias Bärtsch and Rachel TonThat. Translated from Swiss German and High German into English for the first time, the book dwells on the lifespan of the stories through time with past versions paired with historical context, new retellings, and excerpts from 19th to 21st century folklorists, including an essay by contemporary folklorist Dr. Meret Fehlmann at the University of Zurich.

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Tobias Bärtsch (b. 1993) is a Swiss-Polish artist and writer based in Zurich, Switzerland. His interdisciplinary practice spans various media, often beginning with text. In 2024, he participated in the group exhibition Uncanny Unchained at Kunsthalle St. Gallen. He wrote for various publications, such as PW Magazine and transversal texts. His work has been supported by the Canton of St. Gallen through a Werkbeitrag grant in 2024.

Rachel TonThat (b. 1989) is an interdisciplinary artist and writer working with narrative structures around themes of possible futures, memory, and space-time. She is co-founder of the social art and publishing project, Oreades Press and was selected for the inaugural She Who Has No Master(s) writing mentorship through the Diasporic Vietnamese Artist Network. Her work has been supported by the ZHdK International Project Fund, the city of Zurich, Canton St. Gallen, the AAPI Commission of Massachusetts, New England Foundation For the Arts, Mass Cultural Council, and more. Her essays and criticism have appeared in publications including Intervenxions, Diacritics, The Amp, and Boston Art Review. She lives in Salem, MA.

Publication date: October 31, 2025 / April 21, 2026

ISBN: 9798218768881

Price: $65 / 55Fr.