When will the reading take place?

The reading will take place on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, from 19:30 to 21:00.

Where will the event take place?

The event location is the Freiburg City Library, Main Branch, Münsterplatz 17, 79098 Freiburg.

Who is organizing the evening?

Martina Bölck and Hilke Veth will read from their book and talk about the researched life stories of German-speaking women in China.

What is the book about?

The book portrays 18 women who lived, worked, or traveled in China in the 19th and 20th centuries and connects their biographies with German-Chinese history.

Is there a subsequent discussion?

Yes, the event is announced as a reading and discussion.

Is registration possible?

Registration is possible via info@ki-freiburg.de; according to the event information, spontaneous participation is also possible.

Bölck & Veth read in Freiburg 2026

Name: "Of All Things to the Chinese! – German-speaking Adventurers in China"
Start: 2026-11-04T19:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-04T21:00:00+01:00
Location: Stadtbibliothek Freiburg, Hauptstelle

A literary journey to German-speaking adventurers in China

China appears in this reading not as a distant backdrop, but as a historical space full of contradictions, encounters, and biographical breaks. Martina Bölck and Hilke Veth present their book "Of All Things to the Chinese ... – German-speaking Adventurers in China" at the Freiburg City Library and open the view on 18 women who connected with China in various ways in the 19th and 20th centuries.

18 life paths between curiosity, courage, and contemporary history

The portrayed women were diplomats' wives, missionaries, journalists, art collectors, world travelers, spies, and scientists. Some stayed only a few weeks, others spent years or nearly their entire lives in China. Their stories traverse the time of the Opium Wars, German colonialism, the World Wars, and the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Reading and discussion with literary depth

The authors Martina Bölck and Hilke Veth researched the historical biographies and transformed them into narratively concise miniatures. Letters, diaries, and contemporary publications make the perspectives of the women directly tangible. It becomes evident how strongly personal prejudices, cultural misunderstandings, admiration, and political beliefs shaped the perception of China.

History of perception of China from a female perspective

The book combines biographical storytelling with cultural history and German-Chinese relations. It makes visible how European women described China, what roles they took there, and how their experiences fit into the respective historical context. Thus, the event offers not only a reading but also an insightful literary discourse on otherness, self-image, and cultural encounters.

A special reading atmosphere in the Freiburg City Library

In the calm atmosphere of the city library, space is created for focused listening, historical imagination, and immediate exchange with the authors. Voice, language, and documentary storytelling combine to create a literary experience that makes history personally perceptible. In the subsequent discussion, the research work, the selection of portraits, and the significance of female perspectives can be deepened.

Conclusion: History becomes audible and personal

The reading by Martina Bölck and Hilke Veth promises an impressive encounter with the authors between literature, biography, and cultural history. Those interested in China, historical female figures, travel literature, and the multifaceted relationships between Europe and East Asia will experience an evening full of linguistic craftsmanship and historical insight.