One Day a Year: 2001-2011

Christa Wolf kept a detailed diary of September 27th for over fifty years, which was published to great acclaim. Translator Katy Derbyshire is bringing the collection up to date with One Day a Year, a personal record and a unique document of our times. Wolf examines the interplay of private and contemporary historical events, including Germany after 9/11, her work on City of Angels, and her confrontation with old age.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: 11 May 2021
Publisher: Seagull Books London Ltd

Fascinated by the idea of capturing the significance of a single day over many years, East German writer Christa Wolf embarked on an intriguing journey. In a 1960 interview, she was asked to describe in detail what she had done on September 27th. Intrigued by this thought, Wolf began keeping a meticulous diary of that day, a practice she continued for more than fifty years until her passing in 2011. The first volume of her notes, spanning from 1960 to 2000, was published to widespread acclaim over a decade ago. Now, translator Katy Derbyshire has brought the September 27th collection up to date with One Day a Year—a collection of Wolf's notes from the last decade of her life.

The book serves as both a personal record and a unique document of our times. Wolf, known for her characteristic precision and transparency, delves into the intricate interplay between private, subjective, and major contemporary historical events. She writes about Germany after 9/11, her work on her last great book, City of Angels, and her challenging confrontation with old age. One Day a Year offers a compelling and intimate glimpse into the life of one of the world's greatest writers.

Weight: 210g
Dimension: 127 x 203 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780857428196