When does the event take place

On April 30, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Villa Quandt in Potsdam.

How much is the admission

The regular admission is 10 euros per person.

Where does the evening take place

At the Theodor Fontane Archive in the Villa Quandt, Große Weinmeisterstraße 46/47, 14469 Potsdam.

Is there also a discussion besides the reading

Yes, after the reading there will be a literary discussion with professional contextualization of the novel.

What is the novel Before the Storm about

About Fontane's novel debut concerning the winter of 1812/13, Prussian society, and the historical state of emergency before the Wars of Liberation.

Is digital participation also possible

Yes, the event will also be offered via Zoom according to the announcement.

Fontane's Novel Debut Unfolds the Tension before the Historical Storm Literarily in Potsdam

Name: Self-Defense, Literarily: Before the Storm
Start: 2026-04-30T21:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-04-30T22:30:00+02:00
Location: Theodor-Fontane-Archiv, Villa Quandt

Fontane's Novel Debut as Literary Self-Assertion in Potsdam

With Before the Storm, the Theodor Fontane Archive places an early, remarkably current text at the center: Fontane's novel debut from 1878 tells of threat, resistance, and social tension in the winter of 1812/13. In the Villa Quandt, this creates a reading atmosphere that uniquely connects literary history, political interpretation, and vibrant present.

An Evening Between Novel Art and Crisis Experience

The evening links Fontane's linguistic precision with a cultural-historical question that still resonates today: How does literature respond to times of upheaval? Selected passages, read by Katharina Thalbach, open the novel to new perspectives. Following this, Hedwig Richter and the Fontane biographer Iwan-Michelangelo D’Aprile place the work in a broader context of literature, the history of democracy, and historical experience.

Fontane, Prussia, and the View of the 19th Century

Before the Storm is regarded as a multifaceted historical novel that observes the everyday life of a Prussian society in the shadow of the Wars of Liberation. This is precisely where its literary quality lies: Fontane does not just recount events but also moods, attitudes, and linguistic nuances. Anyone interested in realism, the social novel, and the narrative art of the 19th century will find a concentrated access to a key text of German literature here.

The Villa Quandt as a Suitable Venue

The Theodor Fontane Archive in the Villa Quandt offers the ideal setting for such an author encounter. The place combines scientific authority with the intimate closeness of a reading. Between the archive, literary research, and contemporary relevance, a literary experience unfolds that not only informs but also encourages further contemplation.

What Visitors Can Expect

An evening for literature lovers seeking more than a classic reading: a discussion about crises, resistance, and the political power of the novel, supported by linguistic artistry and historical depth. Those who wish to experience Fontane live in this context will encounter a thoughtful, atmospheric literary evening with academic substance and cultural relevance.

Conclusion: This event brings Fontane's Before the Storm to the stage in a dense, demanding form. An evening for all who value literature as both a space for thought and an experience.