Reading with Maria Schrader and discussion with Insa Wilke as part of the Kempowski Days 2026 | Moderation: Dr. Stephan Lesker (University of Rostock)
He is missing, still and again and again: Roger Willemsen, one of Germany's brightest and most entertaining intellectuals. But he is still alive in his texts, especially when it comes to literature and reading. Willemsen and books - it was a rousing love affair, exuberant and intense. The new volume of essays, edited by literary critic Insa Wilke, shows Willemsen as a person and reader: here he portrays great authors like no other, tells of fairy tales and analyzes the obscene in an essay of great topicality. He draws up "10 rules for readers", gives more than seventy very specific book recommendations and mocks the literary industry after having lived through nights at book fairs. Sparkling with humor and wit, he subjects literary studies to a fundamental critique and formulates what is necessary on the subject of "literature and human rights". An evening not just for fans!
Insa Wilke is one of the great literary critics in the German-speaking world and has received numerous awards. She not only looks after the estate of Roger Willemsen, but also rediscovered the author Helga Schubert, who is now known to everyone again.
Maria Schrader is one of Germany's most important actresses, directors and screenwriters and is also an international star. Her major successes include "Meschugge", "Vor der Morgenröte" and "Ich bin dein Mensch". She regularly lends her voice to literary works of distinction in live readings.
Advance booking: €8 plus fee at the press center/at mvticket.de, box office: €10
Reduced for pupils, members of Literaturhaus Rostock e.V., severely disabled persons: €5 (registration at: reservierung@literaturhaus-rostock.de)
Students of the University of Rostock/hmt Rostock free with the AStA culture ticket. Registration: reservierung@literaturhaus-rostock.de
Venue: Aula of the University of Rostock, Universitätsplatz 1, 18055 Rostock
A cooperation event of: Kempowski Archiv e.V. - Ein bürgerliches Haus, University of Rostock, andere buchhandlung & Literaturhaus Rostock
