When does the reading by Kevin Chen take place?

The reading takes place on Friday, November 13, 2026, from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM.

Where does Kevin Chen read in Duisburg?

The event takes place in the event area on the first floor of the central library Duisburg, Steinsche Gasse 26, 47051 Duisburg.

What is the admission fee?

Admission to the reading is free.

Is registration required?

No, registration is not required.

What is Twilight of the Spirits about?

The novel tells of Tianhong's return to his Taiwanese hometown and connects family secrets, migration, memory, queer identity, and the search for self-determination.

Kevin Chen reads Twilight of the Spirits Duisburg 2026

Name: Kevin Chen reads Twilight of the Spirits
Start: 2026-11-13T20:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-13T21:30:00+01:00
Location: Zentralbibliothek

Kevin Chen reads Twilight of the Spirits in Duisburg

On November 13, 2026, the central library in Duisburg will become the venue for an intense literary encounter: Kevin Chen will read from his novel Twilight of the Spirits. The free reading begins at 8:00 PM in the event area on the first floor and connects contemporary literature with a multifaceted view of origins, memory, and identity.

A novel between Taiwan and Berlin

The focus is on Tianhong, who returns to his Taiwanese hometown Yongjing after several years in a Berlin prison. His biography leads from familial closeness and societal role expectations through a flight to Berlin to a destructive marriage. Chen does not tell the story linearly but unfolds a narrative mosaic of voices, memories, and repressed truths.

Family secrets and the voices of the deceased

On the day of the Ghost Festival, the novel's characters encounter both the living and the dead, the present and the past. The deceased mother, an orchid grower, a reclusive sister, and an apparent outsider become parts of a polyphonic family panorama. Magical realism, family saga, and crime novel intertwine and create a dense, almost ethereal reading atmosphere.

Literary quality and cultural discourse

Kevin Chen, born in Taiwan in 1976 and now living in Berlin, began his artistic career as an actor. As an author, he works with themes such as migration, queer identity, gender roles, home, and alienation. Twilight of the Spirits is his first novel translated into German; the translation from Chinese is by Monika Li. The linguistic artistry of the work lies in the connection of drastic family history, poetic imagery, and social observation.

An author encounter with a special atmosphere

The reading promises a literary experience where voice, rhythm, and narrative condensation become immediately tangible. Between the Taiwanese rural world and the foreignness of Berlin, a cultural resonance space emerges that places questions of belonging and self-determination at its center. The event takes place in cooperation with the Department for Equality and Equal Opportunities.

Conclusion

Those who appreciate demanding contemporary literature, transcultural narrative forms, and intense author encounters will experience a novel of great emotional and social breadth at Kevin Chen's reading. Admission is free, and registration is not required. Literature enthusiasts should experience this evening live at the central library in Duisburg.