Günter Grass’ My Century: Reading with Florian Walter in Bamberg

A Century Speaks: Günter Grass’ My Century in Bamberg

On November 8, 2026, Günter Grass’ multifaceted panorama of history My Century comes alive at the ETA Hoffmann Theater in Bamberg. Florian Walter reads from a work where people from various social backgrounds have their say and observe the 20th century closely: not from the perspective of great leaders but from the experiences of those who witness, suffer, and remember history.

One hundred years, one hundred voices

Grass organizes the century not as a dry chronicle but as a literary mosaic of voices. Old and young people, conservative and progressive figures, men and women from different social classes recount technical achievements, scientific discoveries, athletic and cultural accomplishments as well as megalomania, persecution, war, and catastrophe.

Literary Close-up of History

The unique quality of My Century lies in the combination of historical breadth and narrative closeness. Great political upheavals appear fractured through individual perceptions. Comedy and tragedy, cheerfulness and seriousness stand side by side. This creates a narrative collage that not only explains history but also makes it audible and humanly experienceable.

Günter Grass and German Post-War Literature

Günter Grass is one of the defining German-speaking authors of the post-war period. With novels like The Tin Drum, Cat and Mouse, and Dog Years, he developed a distinctive linguistic art that straddles realism, grotesque, and social criticism. For his literary oeuvre, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1999. My Century continues his exploration of memory, responsibility, and German history in a formally independent series of century stories.

Florian Walter Reads at the ETA Hoffmann Theater

The reading promises a concentrated encounter with Grass’ linguistic artistry. In the reading atmosphere of the ETA Hoffmann Theater, the shifting perspectives have a particularly immediate effect: voice, rhythm, and narrative attitude give the historical episodes a sensory presence.

Conclusion: History as a Literary Experience

This reading invites you to reconsider the 20th century through the eyes of very different people. Literature enthusiasts will experience an evening full of historical tension, linguistic precision, and cultural reflection. Admission is free, but reservation cards are required.

Official Channels of Günter Grass:

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Sources:

• Bamberg Tourism – Günter Grass: My Century
• German Biography – Günter Grass
• LeMO – Biography of Günter Grass
• Nobel Prize – Günter Grass, 1999
• Literature House Schleswig-Holstein – Günter Grass