THE EXCURSION OF THE DEAD GIRLS

Abstract

In 1928, Anna Seghers, born as Netty Reiling in Mainz in 1900, published her first novel entitled The Revolt of the Fishermen (Der Aufstand der Fischer von St. Barbara), for which she received the much-coveted Kleist Prize and also became a member of the Communist Party. This novel treats her basic theme, the struggle of the economically disadvantaged against oppression and social injustice. A few of her novels are The Seventh Cross (Das siebte Kreuz), a best seller; Transit, an autobiographical novel; The Dead Stay Young (Die Toten bleiben jung); The Decision (Die Entscheidung) (1959), a lengthy novel; and The Crossing (Die Überfahrt) (1971). Anna Seghers also published a few essays on topics such as peace, art in a socialist society, Russian literature, and the people of the Soviet Union, and a number of short stories and legends. In her writings, socialism often seems more a matter of emotion than one of thought and instinctive and mystical forces permeate political events. The Excursion of the Dead Girls (Der Ausflug der toten Mädchen), written in Mexico in 1946, while the author was recovering from a fever, is a visionary account of high school girls on a carefree excursion and their later fate during two world wars and the Nazi reign of terror. This novella is one of her best and most autobiographical works. The role of women in her work has always been a highly traditional one; only men are activists. Women intuitively seek their men out, and help and protect them. Although occupying a prominent position in the literary establishment of her country, the author never really portrays women as active participants in a revolt, as professionally able, or even as true, self-assured workers.