Name: Spies & Writers: A Small Town in Germany
Start: 2026-09-06T19:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-06T21:00:00+02:00
Location: Rheinhotel Dreesen

An evening between intelligence services, literature, and Bonn's history

On the 100th anniversary of Bad Godesberg, a novel comes to the forefront at the Rheinhotel Dreesen, which has been literary in Bonn to this day: John le Carré's A Small Town in Germany. Denis Scheck and Dietmar Bär combine reading, discussion, and musical accompaniment for an evening that elegantly intertwines spy fiction, contemporary history, and current culture.

When Bonn becomes the stage of world politics

Le Carré's novel condenses the atmosphere of the former federal capital in the 1960s into a dense narrative of distrust, power, and diplomatic frost. This is precisely where the literary fascination of this evening lies: literature is not only read here but experienced as a political seismogram. The reading atmosphere promises an intense cultural event that showcases the spy novel in all its narrative tension.

Denis Scheck and Dietmar Bär as a literary double voice

A literary critic and an actor with a criminal stage presence create that blend of expertise and experience that characterizes great readings. Denis Scheck places the work in a literary historical context, while Dietmar Bär makes the linguistic precision and rhythm of the passages audible. In this way, an encounter with the author occurs in an extended sense: not with the author himself, but with his language, his style, and his perspective on power and morality.

A novel that makes Bonn literary re-readable

A Small Town in Germany belongs to those novels that affect beyond their plot. The missing embassy staff member, the shadows of diplomacy, and the climate of the Cold War shape a dense panorama that still holds cultural relevance today. For literature enthusiasts, the evening opens an intelligent perspective on spy literature, on John le Carré's linguistic art, and on the question of how places store their memories through great literature.

The venue with classic Rhine atmosphere

The Rheinhotel Dreesen in Bonn-Rüngsdorf provides the perfect setting: a historic place by the Rhine, with an aura of history, good accessibility, and an ambiance that adds extra depth to the evening. For visitors, the event is not just a reading but a literary experience with a sense of place, history, and stylish backdrop.

Conclusion: A must-attend for anyone who connects literature with history

Those who love spy novels, want to rediscover Bonn's cultural history, or are simply looking for an intelligently curated literary evening will find an outstanding event here. This evening combines linguistic art, contemporary diagnosis, and lively reading into a cultural moment with echoes. Experience it live now and rediscover the novel in its Bonn dimension.