Icons of literature - James Baldwin
On March 1, 2026, Reading in Black, Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, and Meeuwenhof: Bijlm3r Community Book Club invite you to a special edition of Icons in Literature. This time, one of the most influential writers of the 20th century takes center stage: James Baldwin. With his sharp analyses, poetic language, and uncompromising perspective on identity, love, race, and humanity, Baldwin remains a guide for many.
Location The Bookshop
Genre Perspective
Duration 45 minutes
Language Dutch
Did you already buy a ticket for Giovanni’s Room for the 2026 run? Then you don’t need to purchase an additional ticket. Please note: seating is limited, and once it’s full, it’s full.
Icons in Literature - James Baldwin
During this edition, we dive deep into Baldwin’s world. Visitors are guided through his books, interviews, documentaries, and archival materials that place his life and work in context. This rich foundation forms the starting point for a series of interactive and connective sessions in which we explore why Baldwin continues to resonate today.
Before the theatre performance, a panel discussion will take place with experts who have extensively studied and analyzed Baldwin’s work, bringing together a range of perspectives and insights.
After the performance, we gather in the Bookshop to celebrate Baldwin’s work. With film clips, a quiz, and creative conversations, we explore his writing and his world in fresh and surprising ways. Together, we look at how his insights relate to today’s urgent questions and how we can apply them within our own lives and communities.
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Do you have a ticket for the performance of Giovanni’s Room? Join us afterwards in the Bookshop, where we’ll reflect together and celebrate his work.
No worries if you haven’t read his books—everyone is welcome.
Icons in Literature accompanies Eline Arbo’s 2024 stage adaptation of Baldwin’s novel Giovanni’s Room at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, bringing literature, theatre, and community together in a powerful way.
For bookworms and eager listeners aged 6 and up, we present The Bookshop Kids! Every first Sunday of the month, we transform our soft‑pink Bookshop into a place full of children’s stories where imagination has all the space it needs.
