Travel, Research, Writing: A Reading of Humboldt's "Complete Writings

24 July 2019

Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was one of the most famous explorers, but also one of the most international publicists of his time. However, the majority of his nearly 1,000 essays, travelogues, and writings, which were published on five continents, are scattered all over the world and have never been edited. Now, renowned Humboldt experts Oliver Lubrich and Thomas Nehrlich have unearthed this treasure. On Thursday, September 12, 2019, starting at 6:30 p.m., they will present the ten-volume Bern edition of Humboldt's "Sämtllicher Schriften" (All Writings) as part of the program accompanying the exhibition "Humboldt lebt!" (Humboldt Lives!).

This edition of some 7,000 pages is a veritable treasure trove of fascinating texts, providing deep insights into the work and life of the dazzling scientist Alexander von Humboldt. In addition to the research results and travel descriptions of the great expeditions to America and Asia, Humboldt's writings contain a wealth of information about his life and political views. For example, the author of "Views of Nature" and "Cosmos" took part in international debates and spoke out, sometimes vehemently, against slavery and colonialism as well as against the clearing of the rainforest. His "Sämtliche Schriften" ("Complete Writings") comprise Humboldt's entire journalistic oeuvre for the first time. They are the mirror of a tireless publication history that spans some 70 years - from Paris and Berlin via Rio de Janeiro and Havana to Moscow and Shanghai.

Special exhibition "Humboldt Lives!"

The editors Oliver Lubrich, professor at the Institute for German Studies at the University of Bern, and the literary scholar and edition philologist Thomas Nehrlich, who also works there, will read a few adventurous texts from the writings and then comment on each other's work. Matthias Glaubrecht will moderate the event and also present the approaches of the exhibition "Humboldt lebt!", which runs until September 29.

While Matthias Glaubrecht conceptually developed the exhibition section "Animals in the Tropics" in the CeNak Zoological Museum with Humboldt expert Peter Korneffel, the focus "Botany in Motion" curated by Oliver Lubrich for Bern was integrated into the Botanical Garden of the University of Hamburg and the Loki Schmidt Haus.

The Bern edition of "Sämtlicher Schriften" Alexander von Humboldt will be published by dtv on August 16, 2019 to mark the 250th anniversary of the naturalist's birth.

Information about the event

When: Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019, 6:30 p.m. (admission 6 p.m.)
Where: Zoological Museum Hamburg, Bundesstraße 52, 20146 Hamburg.
Admission: This event, like the visit to the exhibition, is free of charge, registration is requested at cenak@uni-hamburg.de

There will be a small reception following the reading.

More about the exhibition "Humboldt Lives!":
www.uni-hamburg.de/humboldt-lebt 

Queries:

Mareen Gerisch
Communication and Press
Phone: +49 40 42 838-8846
E-mail: Mareen.Gerisch@uni-hamburg.de