On November 19, 2022, Amerikazentrum Hamburg and the Kurt Vonnegut Society invited guests to celebrate the 100th birthday of Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007).
The event was expertly guided by Dr. Wieland Schwanebeck. The audience was captivated by personal anecdotes about Vonnegut shared by Charles J. Shields, author of the official Vonnegut biography, and Jan-Christian Petersen’s profound lecture on Vonnegut as a humanist. Discussions highlighted the importance of kindness and compassion in today’s political climate, themes central to Vonnegut’s work, as well as the pursuit of personal growth. Between these presentations, Maxwell Prior, Vonnegut’s grandson, read passages accompanied by music, offering a renewed appreciation of Vonnegut’s words.
Events like this emphasize the cultural exchange and connection that characterize the transatlantic relationship between the USA and Germany, a bond that was deeply reflected in Kurt Vonnegut’s life. We are proud to support this special binational friendship with events like these.
