Founded in 1818, the Société de Lecture (SDL) is a cultural institution nestled in Geneva’s Old Town. Housed in an 18th-century building, the SDL serves as a hub for relaxed intellectual exchange. Functioning as a library with an extensive book collection, the Société de Lecture also hosts diverse cultural events, including a full rich program of literary conferences, debates, workshops, and even yoga classes. Notably, it offers a diverse program for children.
This reading group will explore, in eight sessions, a selection of literary works that have “transcended the time and place of their origin,” in the spirit of Martin Bodmer’s definition of Weltliteratur — or world literature — as dear to Goethe. A literary journey across time and continents, guided by the shared affinities of the participants.
Historian of art, Hélène Leibkutsch moves between languages and cultures, driven by her passion for art, literature, and music. She holds a Master of Arts from the University of Geneva, where she studied art history, general linguistics, and English, as well as a CAS in Cultural Institution Promotion from the University of Neuchâtel. With international experience in art history and the art market, she has maintained a deep interest in literature throughout her career. She served on the board of the Société de Lecture, acting as vice-president for two terms (2008–2010; 2012–2019), and chaired the Reading Commission (2010–2021), where she remains an active member.
In French.
Emmanuel Rondeau, financier and bank administrator and author of Les frères d’Astier de La Vigerie, Français libres (Tallandier, 2025), combines family memory and historical inquiry. He examines three members of the d’Astier de la Vigerie family — each with divergent public roles yet united in their commitment to the French Resistance — to reveal how personal convictions shaped national destiny. The lecture explores political identity, courage and the moral complexities of resistance, told with close knowledge and narrative panache.
In French.
Pierre Béguin leads monthly discussions on classic literature, linking timeless texts to today’s world through lively, open conversation.
Upcoming themes:
First session readings:
Pierre Béguin taught literature for nearly 30 years at Collège Calvin in Geneva. Born in Geneva, he holds a degree in literature and a postgraduate diploma in psycholinguistics. A passionate traveler, he has devoted the past two decades primarily to writing. He is the author of around ten novels, including Terre de personne (Prix Schiller 2005), Vous ne connaîtrez ni le jour ni l’heure (Prix Chronos selection, 2013), Condamné au bénéfice du doute (Prix Edouard Rod 2016), and La scandaleuse Madame B. (2020). His most recent novel, Au nom du feu (2022), was shortlisted for the RTS Listeners’ Prize, the Lettres Frontière Prize, and the Rambert Prize.
In French.
Superpapier loves stories and hands-on making. The session starts with a surprise reading and continues with paper, scissors and glue: children use their imagination and ten fingers to build joyful, colourful creations. Artist Florence Widmer Garcia leads playful, exploratory workshops that invite curiosity and freedom through varied techniques. Activities focus on sensory play, colour, cutting and simple sewing, encouraging sharing and confidence while each child finds their own place.
In French. Kids ages 5 and up.
Ophélie Coelho is a researcher in digital geopolitics, affiliated with the Institut de relations internationales et stratégiques (IRIS) and a member of the Centre Internet et Société (CIS, CNRS). A developer, cartographer and practitioner with about fifteen years’ experience in the digital industry, she examines how Big Tech firms extend territorial influence through infrastructure, platforms and data control. This lecture investigates the geopolitical risks of technological imperialism and explores pathways to reduce dependency and reclaim digital sovereignty.
In French.
Pascal Schouwey, independent journalist, conducts an interview with Ernest Pignon-Ernest, elected to the Académie des beaux-arts and a precursor of street art since the 1960s. The conversation explores his rigorous technical practice, ethical commitment and the poetic way he inhabits the world. It examines emblematic works such as his Rimbaud vagabond, his interventions across different contexts and the recurring themes of exile, social injustice, reproductive rights, the AIDS crisis and migration, and how he revives dormant myths.
The lecture will be preceded by an apéritif at 18:30, offering a convivial start to the evening.
In French.
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