Ildikó von Kürthy & Daniel Schreiber - Harbour Front Literaturfestival

One of Germany’s most widely read authors meets a bestselling author and essayist who explores the personal as a literary and social issue: Ildikó von Kürthy and Daniel Schreiber are presenting a joint evening at the Harbour Front Literature Festival—in the form of a conversation developed specifically for Hamburg.

The starting point is a carte blanche for Ildikó von Kürthy and Daniel Schreiber. The two are close friends, regularly take walks around the Alster, and shared the stage at the book launch for *Alt genug* (Old Enough), which Daniel Schreiber moderated. For Harbour Front, they’ll come together for a stroll through their thoughts—an open conversation between two authors whose themes intersect.

Ildikó von Kürthy has been writing for many years about women’s lives, midlife, relationships and family dynamics, as well as the body, aging, self-doubt, and the challenges posed by one’s own life story. She is direct, funny, and vulnerable—qualities that have won her a large and enthusiastic audience. In “Alt genug,” her writing has evolved even further into autobiographical self-examination.

In his books *Nüchtern*, *Zuhause*, *Allein*, *Die Zeit der Verluste*, and *Liebe!*, Daniel Schreiber explores themes such as dependency, background, loneliness, grief, and the sociopolitical relevance of collective emotions. These themes also come to the fore in his writing workshops, one of which Ildikó von Kürthy attended.

Ildikó von Kürthy and Daniel Schreiber are taking a risk this evening: the specific structure of the performance will emerge spontaneously. That is precisely what makes this Harbour-Front production so interesting: We are very curious to see where this conversation will lead, one driven by mutual trust and curiosity about one another—and by a shared exploration of themes that move so many of us.

Ildikó von Kürthy (*1968) is a journalist, podcaster, and writer. Her first novel, *Mondscheintarif*, was published in 1999; her books have repeatedly become number-one bestsellers, sold millions of copies, and been translated into numerous languages. Her most recent book is “Alt genug.” She lives in Hamburg.

Daniel Schreiber (b. 1977) is a writer, essayist, and columnist. His highly acclaimed and internationally successful books include the *Spiegel* bestsellers *Nüchtern*, *Zuhause*, *Allein*, *Die Zeit der Verluste*, and *Liebe! Ein Aufruf*. He lives in Berlin.