On Tuesday evening Oct 22, 2025, the German Society of Pennsylvania had the great pleasure of welcoming German authors
Dr.
Andrea Paluch and Dr. Robert Habeck for an engaging literary conversation in our Barthelmes Auditorium. The event drew a lively audience of members, students, and first-time visitors eager to hear about the couple’s unique journey as a writing duo.
Andrea and Robert spoke candidly about the creative process behind their collaborative works, sharing insights into how they approach storytelling together, overcome writer’s block, and balance the challenges of daily life as partners both on and off the page. They also reflected on how their writing evolved during Robert’s time in politics—particularly his tenure as
Vice Chancellor of Germany from 2021 to 2024—and how they navigated the intersection of public life and creative expression. Their humor, openness, and thoughtful reflections resonated deeply with the audience, inspiring lively discussion during the Q&A session that followed.
After the event, our President Mark McGuigan led Andrea and Robert, along with several guests from the audience, on a tour of the Society’s historic building, including a visit to the
Horner Memorial Library—home to one of the largest collections of German-American materials in the United States. It was wonderful to see so many
members of our Board of Directors in attendance, mingling with guests and helping to make the evening especially welcoming and warm.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the
University of Pennsylvania, and in particular to
Professor Fritz Breithaupt, for making this special evening possible.
It was a memorable night celebrating literature, partnership, and the enduring connections between Germany and Philadelphia.
