When does Gabriele von Arnim's reading take place?

The reading takes place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, from 8 PM to 10 PM.

Where will the event be held?

The reading will take place at the Central Library at Neumarkt, Neumarkt 1, 33602 Bielefeld, on the literary stage on the ground floor.

How much does admission cost?

Regular admission costs 15 euros. A discounted ticket costs 10 euros. The price for the livestream is 7 euros.

When does entry begin?

Entry and the evening box office begin at 7:30 PM, provided tickets are still available.

Who will provide musical accompaniment for the evening?

Reinhold Westerheide will accompany the reading on guitar, and Monica von Bülow on cello. The moderation is done by Angelika Teller.

What is Living Farewell about?

Gabriele von Arnim reflects in diary form on various forms of farewell, including the loss of people, places, beliefs, and former phases of life, and connects these experiences with the search for joy in life.

Gabriele von Arnim turns farewell into a literary journey full of comfort and life courage

Name: Literary Days Bielefeld – Gabriele von Arnim: Living Farewell
Start: 2026-11-03T20:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-03T22:00:00+01:00
Location: Stadtbibliothek Bielefeld

Gabriele von Arnim reads in Bielefeld about the art of saying goodbye

Goodbyes are among the deepest experiences of human life. At the 31st Bielefeld Literary Days, Gabriele von Arnim will present her new book Living Farewell on November 3, 2026. The reading at the Central Library at Neumarkt combines personal reflection, literary artistry, and the question of how to find new confidence in life through letting go.

A diary about finiteness and joy of life

Gabriele von Arnim writes in a diary format about a year in which goodbyes manifest in many forms: at doorsteps and train stations, in one’s own mind, in the loss of loved ones, in the coming of age of children, or in bidding farewell to familiar places, opinions, and former selves. Her literary gaze does not focus solely on grief but also on the indispensable joy of life that shines through the acceptance of finiteness.

Literary precision meets personal experience

The author combines essayistic observation with autobiographical openness. Her style moves between quiet intimacy, philosophical reflection, and precise diagnosis of the present. Living Farewell questions present fears, dreams, and the possibility of leading a fulfilling life despite losses. The narrative form of the diary creates immediate closeness to the author's voice and gives the text a special reading atmosphere.

An important voice in German-language literature

Gabriele von Arnim was born in Hamburg in 1946, earned a doctorate in sociology, and worked for ten years as a freelance journalist in New York. Later, she wrote for DIE ZEIT and the Süddeutsche Zeitung, among others, and hosted radio and television programs. Her well-known works include The Great Silence, Life is a Temporary Condition, and The Comfort of Beauty. Her books connect social themes with personal experience and have often been recognized as bestsellers.

An evening at the center of the Bielefeld literary scene

The reading starts at 8 PM in the literary stage on the ground floor of the city library. Entry and evening box office open at 7:30 PM, provided tickets are still available. Gabriele von Arnim will be moderated by Angelika Teller. Musically, Reinhold Westerheide on guitar and Monica von Bülow on cello will accompany the evening. This creates a sensual literary experience, where voice, text, and music interact.

Conclusion: An author encounter about continuing life

This reading is aimed at anyone who wants to experience literature as a space for personal and societal questions. Gabriele von Arnim does not diminish the farewell but makes it more precise and human. Those who experience the author live encounter a linguistically artistic, wise confrontation with loss, change, and the freedom of new beginnings.