Abstract
The depiction of transgenerational memory and trauma within the family features prominently in novels by so-called third generation German authors, such as Tanja Duckers. This generation of authors in Germany has been labeled apolitical or unconstrained by the past. My analysis of Duckers’ statements in interviews and non-fictional texts, and her novels, in particular, Himmelskorper (2002) and Der langste Tag des Jahres (2006), shows that this is not the case. In fact, her fictional portrayal of familial influences and transgenerational memory and trauma illustrates the way contemporary German families may continue to be impacted by their family members’ experiences during Germany’s National Socialism period.
Highlights
Between 2005 and 2015, over half of the winners of the renowned Deutscher Buchpreis were characterized in German press reviews as a Familienroman or Generationenroman.1 This points to the ongoing profusion of this genre, which often features a family’s experiences, conveys memories across generations, and references major historical time periods in the twentieth century
In conversation with Dückers (Personal interview),5 it is clear that she is concerned about the impact of transgenerational memories in German families. Her generation appears far removed from the historical past of the Second World War, Dückers asserted that memories and beliefs passed down in familial circles continue to have an impact on certain individuals
Sami’s behavior, Thomas’s choice to live in the desert, and his efforts to rid his life of any kind of Ordnung, as well as his repeated reflections on his childhood with his father, appear to be tropes to further illustrate the transmission of transgenerational memories and values
Summary
Between 2005 and 2015, over half of the winners of the renowned Deutscher Buchpreis were characterized in German press reviews as a Familienroman or Generationenroman. This points to the ongoing profusion of this genre, which often features a family’s experiences, conveys memories across generations, and references major historical time periods in the twentieth century. In conversation with Dückers (Personal interview), it is clear that she is concerned about the impact of transgenerational memories in German families Her generation appears far removed from the historical past of the Second World War, Dückers asserted that memories and beliefs passed down in familial circles continue to have an impact on certain individuals. She explained that her novels present “ein Kontinuum hinsichtlich der Beschäftigung mit der NS-Zeit und ihrer Auswirkung auf den Umgang der Generationen in Deutschland” (Personal interview). Using studies on transgenerational memory and trauma in the fields of psychology and psychoanalysis, as well as the concept of a “life theme”, I will evaluate how transgenerational memories shape the identity and life decisions of the family members in Dückers’s fiction
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