Sandra Richter: Rainer Maria Rilke oder Das offene Leben
Book Fair
begin 27.03.2025, 20:15
end 27.03.2025, 21:45
location Leipzig
Great biography commemorating the Rilke anniversary year Reading and discussion with author Sandra Richter and actor Michael Pempelforth. Moderation: Jens Bisky
Sandra Richter, literary scholar and Director of the Marbach German Literature Archive, works with previously unknown sources which were made available when the Archive acquired Rilke’s great literary legacy in 2022. Her biography shows the author in a new light: not as the reclusive hermit he liked to portray himself as, but robust, socially adept, cheerful, self-deprecating, and more financially savvy than generally assumed. This biography clearly shows why reading Rilke has become particularly worthwhile in the present day.
Rilke wanted nothing more than to be open and to write: a modest yet ambitious wish. As an author, he experienced “all of life [...] as if it went through him with all its possibilities”. But he also experienced all its contradictions: Rilke fled from his muses but could not be without them, lamented the consequences of human progress but was enthusiastic about technology, loved the simple life but had a strong preference for beautiful objects and residences. His “Notebooks of Malte Laurids Brigge”, was one of the first modern novels, and he produced collections of poems which defined an entire epoch and which have an expressive force that is still felt today.
Information and contact
The event will be held in German.
Venue: Humanities Reading Room, German National Library in Leipzig
Costs: Free admission.
Duration: 90 minutes
Booking: Online via the button above or by phone +49 341 2271-286. To ensure that everything runs smoothly, reservations can only be made up to 3 hours before the event. Remaining places available on site.
Cloakroom info: Please lock your bags, backpacks, jackets and coats in the lockers or leave them at the cloakroom.
Accessibility: The area in which the event will be taking place is barrier-free accessible.
Contact: veranstaltungen@dnb.de or by phone +49 341 2271-286
Address and getting here
German National Library
Deutscher Platz 1
04103 Leipzig
Getting here
We advise you to use public transport.
1 / By public transport
By rail
From the main railway station, take S-Bahn S1 in the direction of Riesa, S2 in the direction of Markkleeberg-Gaschwitz, S3 in the direction of Stötteritz or S5/S5X in the direction of Zwickau. Journey time approx. 7 minutes, get off at “Leipzig MDR”. Exit onto Semmelweisstraße, then turn right and continue for 400 m to the intersection at Straße des 18. Oktober.
Alternatively, take tram line 16 from platform 2 in front of the main railway station (in the direction of Lößnig) and get off at “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”. Journey time approx. 11 minutes.
By air
From Leipzig/Halle airport, take S-Bahn S5/S5X in the direction of Zwickau. Journey time approx. 30 minutes, get off at “Leipzig MDR”. Exit onto Semmelweisstraße, then turn right and continue for 400 m to the intersection at Straße des 18. Oktober.
2 / By bike
The German National Library in Leipzig can easily be reached by bike. You can get to the DNB by taking the cycle paths on Straße des 18. Oktobers, Semmelweißstraße, and Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße. A cycle lane also runs past the DNB's main entrance. Numerous bicycle parking spaces are available along this lane and at the main entrance to the German Museum of Books and Writing. The bicycle racks in front of the museum are covered.
Besides taking the cycle lane, you can reach the bicycle parking spaces via a passageway from the junction of Semmelweißstraße/Philipp-Rosenthal-Straße through the DNB's tower courtyard.
3 / By car
Approaching from the north
Take the A9 to the Schkeuditzer Kreuz intersection, continue on the A14 towards Dresden and take the Leipzig-Mitte (city centre) exit; continue on the B2 towards Leipzig city centre as far as the intersection at Prager Straße/Semmelweisstraße (follow the signs for “Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”).
Approaching from the south and east
Take the A9 or A14, change to the A38 and continue to the Leipzig-Süd exit; change to the B2 and continue to the Südvorstadt exit; turn right into Kurt-Eisner-Straße and continue to the German National Library.
4 / Accessibility
The German National Library in Leipzig has disabled parking spaces right in front of the building. The entrance for disabled visitors is signposted. The reading rooms and cafeteria are accessible by lift.
Last changes:
27.03.2025
