When does the reading with Judith Hermann take place?

The reading takes place on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Doors open at 7:30 PM, and the start is at 8:00 PM.

Where does the event take place?

The reading takes place on the literature stage on the ground floor of the Bielefeld City Library at Neumarkt 1.

How much does entry cost?

The regular entry price is 15 Euro. A reduced ticket costs 10 Euro.

What is "I Want to Go Back in Time" about?

Judith Hermann connects a family history with the exploration of memory, repressed past, and the historical traces of subsequent generations.

Is the event space accessible for people with disabilities?

The literature stage is accessible for people with disabilities. Corresponding audio devices are available to support accessibility; needs should be communicated in advance.

How can I reach the Bielefeld City Library?

The City Library can be reached via the tram stops Hauptbahnhof or Jahnplatz. Parking is available in the Willy-Brandt-Platz underground garage.

Judith Hermann opens literary spaces between memory, family, and repressed history

Name: Literary Days Bielefeld – Judith Hermann reads "I Want to Go Back in Time"
Start: 2026-10-14T20:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-14T22:00:00+02:00
Location: Stadtbibliothek Bielefeld

Judith Hermann reads in Bielefeld from her new book

When memory becomes a quest for traces, literature begins to unfold its special power. As part of the 31st Literary Days Bielefeld, Judith Hermann will present her new book I Want to Go Back in Time at the Bielefeld City Library on October 14, 2026.

A reading about family history and memory

In her new work, Judith Hermann connects personal memory with her family's repressed history. The starting point is the mother's memory of her father's treacherous blood type tattoo. From this detail develops a literary investigation that questions the traces of National Socialism, familial silence, and the possibilities of remembering.

The author follows a family's movements through different times and spaces: the journey leads from Poland to the sister in Naples. A multifaceted narrative about origin, loss, and the question of how subsequent generations deal with a burdened past arises.

Judith Hermann's precise artistry with language

Judith Hermann is one of the defining voices in contemporary German-language literature. Since her debut Summer House, Later in 1998, her style has been known for its laconic, atmospherically dense language. Her stories and novels focus on nuances, inner movements, and those moments when a whole life condenses.

With works like Nothing But Ghosts, Alice, Lettipark, and At Home, Hermann has continuously expanded her literary spectrum. For her artistry with language and her body of work, she has received, among others, the Kleist Prize, the Friedrich Hölderlin Prize, the Bremen Literary Prize, and the Wilhelm Raabe Literature Prize.

Literary experience in the City Library

The reading atmosphere in the literature stage of the City Library creates the right space for this intimate author encounter. Judith Hermann's voice, the concentrated language of her new book, and the closeness to the audience promise an evening where literature is not only read but experienced as a thought-provoking and emotional process.

The focus is on the literary quality of the new work, its historical dimension, and the question of how storytelling can illuminate blind spots of family history. For literature enthusiasts, the event also offers insights into a current book and the working methods of a frequently awarded author.

Conclusion: An author at a significant point in her writing

The reading with Judith Hermann connects contemporary literature, memory culture, and personal quest for traces. Visitors can expect a focused literary experience with an author whose prose impacts through accuracy, restraint, and linguistic artistry. Anyone who wants to experience Judith Hermann and her new book live should not miss this evening as part of the Literary Days Bielefeld.