Navid Kermani in conversation with Andrea Bajani

Navid Kermani, one of Germany’s most acclaimed writers and “among the most thoughtful intellectual voices in German today,” according to the New York Review of Books, recently visited some of the world’s major conflict zones, not as a political analyst, but as a literary observer. Together with Italian writer and Rice University professor Andrea Bajani, Kermani will discuss: What does it mean to be a writer in a polarized world marked by war, displacement, and political division? How is the concept of “the West” changing? How might literature, poetry, and religion serve as bridges in fractured societies and foster solidarity?

This event is part of a series by the Goethe-Institut in North America in cooperation with the Thomas Mann House Los Angeles. Our partner in Houston is the Humanities Research Center (HRC) at Rice University.

Location:
The event will take place in Kraft Hall. Room 130 is on the first floor and on the left side if you approach Kraft Hall from the main entrance on Campus Drive. Signs will be posted to help you find the room. The reception will follow the event in the patio outside Kraft Hall 130.

Parking:
We recommend allowing extra time for traffic and parking. Please consult the interactive campus map for guidance. The Central Campus Garage, best accessed via campus entrance 20 (on Rice Blvd), is the closest Rice public parking option to Kraft Hall. Other parking options include West Lot 2 (best accessed via campus entrance 18 on Rice Blvd) and Entrance 3 Garage (best accessed via campus entrance 3 on Main St at Cambridge St).

Please note that when entering the garage or lot, you will need to insert a debit/credit card to enter. When exiting, insert the parking validation first, then the card used upon entry. For more information on parking at Rice, please visit the Parking Office website.

Transit:
If you are taking METRORail, use the Red Line and exit at either Hermann Park / Rice U or Memorial Hermann Hospital / Houston Zoo. Then, consult the interactive campus map for guidance. We suggest allowing 15 to 20 minutes to walk from either station to Kraft Hall.

If you are using the bus, numerous Metro lines stop within walking distance of the Rice campus, including the 26/27, 73, 8, and 34.