Germany’s Ambassador Peter Wittig and his wife Huberta von Voss-Wittig have been hosting The Berliner Salon—a series of literary events—since they first took up residence in Washington, D.C. The events have typically featured German and American authors, and on October 8 they hosted John Updike . . . via biographer Adam Begley.
According to the German Missions in the United States website, “Begley’s biography ‘Updike’ offers a fascinating portrait of beloved American author John Updike. ‘Updike’ is Begley’s first biographical work, and it has been met with wide critical acclaim, including sweeping praise from Turkish Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk. . . . Mrs. von Voss-Wittig moderated the event and led a lively discussion with Begley and the audience about the life and work of Updike. Over 65 guests took part in the Berliner Salon, among them his father the novelist Louis Begley with his wife the author Anka Muhlstein; PBS-Executive Editor Jim Lehrer and his wife Kate; President and CEO of National Geographic Gary Knell and his wife Kim Larson; former Executive Editor of the Washington Post Marcus Brauchli and his wife, journalist Maggie Farley; and New Times correspondent Adam Liptak and his wife Jennifer Bitman.”