Textual Responses to German Unification : Processing Historical and Social Change in Literature and Film

The unification of the two German states changed the geo-political, economic, social, and cultural borders of Germany and Europe. This volume in three parts researches how East German and West German authors and directors reacted to these radical changes. The basis of this research are fictional, autobiographical, journalistic, and cinematic texts. The authors and directors presented in this volume not only comment on the changes which they themselves experienced but also voice their changing attitudes to their own past within the divided Germany.

Fifteen essays, presented by Costabile-Heming (German, Southwest Missouri State U.), Halverson (German, Washington State U.), and Foell (German, Bowling Green State U.), examine textual and cinematic responses to German unification as they appeared before, during, and after the 1989 opening of the Berlin Wall. The relationship of the textual producers' lives and self-identities to their political and social contexts and wider issues of political power, historical memory, cultural interaction, and economic systems are all touched upon by the papers. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

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Fifteen essays, presented by Costabile-Heming (German, Southwest Missouri State U.), Halverson (German, Washington State U.), and Foell (German, Bowling Green State U.), examine textual and cinematic responses to German unification as they appeared before, during, and after the 1989 opening of the Berlin Wall. The relationship of the textual producers' lives and self-identities to their political and social contexts and wider issues of political power, historical memory, cultural interaction, and economic systems are all touched upon by the papers. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Heralding the collapse of authoritarian regimes in Eastern Europe and the triumph of liberal democracy, the fall of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent unification of the two German states are defining images of the late 20th century.