Name: Madness between Medicine and Literature – a Panel Discussion about E.T.A. Hoffmann and Dr. Marcus
Start: 2026-09-08T20:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-08T21:30:00+02:00
Location: Bamberger Marionettentheater

When Literature and Medicine Meet: E.T.A. Hoffmann Revisited in Bamberg

This panel discussion opens up a view of one of Bamberg's most fascinating intellectual constellations: the fantastic author E.T.A. Hoffmann and the physician Adalbert Friedrich Marcus. On September 8, 2026, Karin Dengler-Schreiber, John von Düffel, and Martin Habermeyer will discuss the night side of the human psyche, city history, romance, and the enduring literary quality of this place. Admission is free, and registration is recommended due to limited seating. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/veranstaltungen/wahnsinn_zwischen_medizin_und-854599-12700421/?utm_source=openai))

A Literary Experience Between Enlightenment and Abyss

The event combines cultural-historical analysis with a vibrant reading atmosphere, even though no classical reading takes place here. The focus is on a conversation about the thought and emotional spaces that continue to shape Hoffmann's work today: the fantastic, the uncanny, the fragmented. At the same time, Dr. Marcus as a physician, city pioneer, and supporter of Bamberg's hospital system is brought into a new light. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/veranstaltungen/wahnsinn_zwischen_medizin_und-854599-12700421/?utm_source=openai))

Bamberg's Romanticism as a Living Present

The evening connects to a place where literary history is not museum-like frozen but acts as a cultural resonance space. The Bamberg Puppet Theatre is located in the historical Staubschen House at Untere Sandstraße 30; the house is only accessible via a staircase of 25 steps. The proximity to the Regnitz and old town creates an intimate atmosphere that fits well with an evening about Hoffmann's fantasy worlds. ([bamberger-marionettentheater.de](https://www.bamberger-marionettentheater.de/kontakt?utm_source=openai))

What It's About

Karin Dengler-Schreiber contributes her profound research on Bamberg's city and monuments, John von Düffel his authority as a playwright, novelist, and theatre director, Martin Habermeyer his museum and curatorial perspective. The result promises a culturally grounded classification instead of mere nostalgia: an author encounter in an expanded sense, where literary quality, city identity, and medical history merge. ([dengler-schreiber.de](https://www.dengler-schreiber.de/vita.html?utm_source=openai))

Conclusion: An Evening for the Curious, Readers, and Romance Fans

Those who want to understand E.T.A. Hoffmann not only by reading but also within his intellectual environment will find here an insightful, stimulating evening. The panel discussion promises well-founded insights, lively exchange, and a special reading atmosphere in the heart of Bamberg. Early registration is worthwhile, as seating is limited. ([bamberg.info](https://www.bamberg.info/veranstaltungen/wahnsinn_zwischen_medizin_und-854599-12700421/?utm_source=openai))