Literature as a Life Companion: Reading as Existential Practice

This lecture explores what literature means to us throughout our lives - and why we keep reading. Books offer recognition, new perspectives, and words for feelings and experiences that are otherwise difficult to articulate.

Drawing on a range of literary works, we examine books connected to different life phases: falling in love and relationships, parenthood, work, divorce, illness, loneliness, aging, loss, and hope. The lecture also incorporates Søren Kierkegaard's thoughts on what it means to be human.

The lecture is based on Anette Leonora Andersen's forthcoming book Literature as a Life Companion, published October 27, 2026. There will be room for literary examples, reflection, and dialogue with the audience.

Anette Leonora Andersen (born 1968) is an author, lecturer, cand.pæd., and certified reading guide with the Danish Reading Society. In 2022 she published the book Reading Joy & Reading Communities.

Venue: Pavillonen