Samuel Beckett: German Diaries

The Samuel Beckett Society presents Samuel Beckett’s diary, which he kept during his trip to Germany in 1936–37 and which contains both highly personal and political observations. Following his formative years in Kassel and the novel *Dream of Fair to Middling Women*, this marks Beckett’s second in-depth engagement with Germany. It was only during this period—at the age of 30—that Beckett ever kept a diary.

Featured:

Samuel Beckett: German Diaries – September 1936 to April 1937
, to be published on August 20, 2026, by Suhrkamp Verlag
, English–German, translated by Gaby Hartel
, edited by Mark Nixon and Oliver Lubrich

We will present the diaries in Kassel on two evenings:

Friday, November 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
The creation of the diary edition from the perspective of the publisher and the editors
: Hans-Ulrich Müller-Schwefe, Suhrkamp Verlag
; Prof. Dr. Oliver Lubrich, University of Bern, editor
. Moderator: Dr. Stefan Grosche with Hans-Ulrich Müller-Schwefe, editor at Suhrkamp Verlag, and Prof. Dr. Oliver Lubrich, University of Bern,
on the topics: The origins of the edition from the publisher’s perspective and the editorial process.
Moderator: Dr. Stefan Grosche, Samuel Beckett Society 

Tuesday, November 24, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
Translation of the diaries, transcription, and collaboration with James Knowlson and Edward Beckett, Beckett Archive (Reading, UK)
Dr. Gaby Hartel, translator; Prof. Dr. Mark Nixon, University of Reading, editor and director of the Beckett International Foundation
Moderator: Jürgen Röhling
Reading from the diaries: Justin Hibbeler, Staatstheater Kassel

The event will take place in the Eulensaal of the Murhard Library, starting at 6:00 p.m., Brüder-Grimm-Platz 4a, 34117 Kassel 

Free
admission Organizer: Samuel Beckett Society e.V.