Authors and the World: Literary Authorship in Modern Germany

Authors and the World explores how four core modes of authorship have evolved in modern Germany through twenty case studies and interviews with contemporary writers, creating a stable German literature network that shapes contemporary authors' cultural significance and reception.

Format: Hardback
Length: 368 pages
Publication date: 11 August 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Authors and the World delves into the intricate tapestry of how four fundamental modes of authorship have evolved and interwoven in modern Germany, through a comprehensive exploration of twenty diverse case studies. This rich tapestry encompasses the works of renowned authors such as Thomas Mann, Günter Grass, Anna Seghers, Walter Höllerer, Felicitas Hoppe, and Katja Petrowskaja, as well as original interview material with contemporary writers Ulrike Draesner, Olga Martynova, and Ulrike Almut Sandig.

Modes of authorship represent the attitudes and perspectives held by individuals regarding their role as authors, which manifest not only in their individual creative endeavors but also in the way that a particular literary tradition or trend is perceived and interpreted by others within and beyond the realm of Pierre Bourdieu's literary field. These modes deliberately straddle the boundaries between literary production and reception, engaging with the complex interplay between artistic expression and societal impact.

Rebecca Braun takes us on a captivating journey as she unravels the intricate interplay between the commemorative, celebratory, utopian, and satirical modes of authorship. Through this exploration, she presents a series of models of authorship that wield foundational or normative influence on society. These modes, rooted in practices from the 19th and early 20th centuries, coalesce in various combinations to shape a remarkably stable German literature network. This network continues to exert a significant influence on contemporary German-speaking authors, shaping their cultural significance, their engagement with local contexts, and their global reception.

Authors and the World offers not only a revolutionary reimagining of German literary history but also a groundbreaking paradigm for understanding literary authorship. It challenges our preconceived notions and expands our horizons, inviting us to explore the multifaceted dimensions of creativity, identity, and the enduring power of literature to shape our world.

Dimension: 216 x 140 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501391026