When does the event start?

The season opening begins on 09/18/2026 at 3:00 PM.

Is the entry free of charge?

Yes, according to the event information, the event is free of charge.

Where does the reading take place?

At the St. Jakobi Literature House in Hildesheim, Jacobikirchgasse, 31134 Hildesheim.

Will there be a book signing?

There are no confirmed details regarding this in the available information.

Is the event suitable for children?

Yes, children are explicitly warmly invited.

What can visitors expect on site?

A reading with Selene Mariani, a new stage space in the church nave, as well as coffee and cake in an open atmosphere.

Selene Mariani opens Hildesheim's season with a novel about longing

Name: Season Opening: Dreaming with Selene Mariani
Start: 2026-09-18T17:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-09-18T19:00:00+02:00
Location: Literaturhaus St. Jakobi

A literary afternoon between departure, skylight, and present

For the season opening Dreaming, the St. Jakobi Literature House invites you to a literary experience that combines reading, spatial art, and conversation. Guest author Selene Mariani will read from her new novel Seeing the Clouds from the Skylight.

A novel about the fragile happiness of one's life design

At the center is a first-person narrator who grapples with one of the great questions of our time: How do I want to live? Mariani unfolds a finely observed narrative about longing, self-design, and the tension between private desire and societal reality. The current crisis experience adds a special literary quality to this reading.

Selene Mariani: clear language, precise observation, quiet intensity

Selene Mariani studied at the Hildesheim Literature Institute and is one of the interesting voices of contemporary German-language literature. Her texts have been nominated for the Prenzlauer Berg Literature Prize, the Berlin Radio Play Prize, and the BücherFrauen Literature Prize, among others. Those familiar with her language expect no loud pose but rather a craftsmanship of words with precise rhythm, clever observation, and a quiet, penetrating emotional depth.

The St. Jakobi Literature House as a stage for remembering and sharing

The event is further enriched by the venue itself. The St. Jakobi Literature House opens the church nave with a new stage design that will shape the space for a year. This creates a special reading atmosphere between historical architecture, cultural discourse, and contemporary literature. Coffee and cake, the end of summer, and an open look at upcoming readings make the afternoon both festive and approachable.

For families, literature lovers, and curious explorers

The invitation is explicitly directed to children and adults who want to not just read literature but experience it together. This openness makes the event attractive: as a meeting with the author, as an entry into the new season, and as a cultural moment that makes reading a living practice visible.

Conclusion

Season Opening: Dreaming promises a stimulating afternoon with literature, space, and conversation. Those who want to experience contemporary literature in a special atmosphere should discover Selene Mariani live at the St. Jakobi Literature House.