(Ent-)Mythologisierung deutscher Geschichte

The novels of Uwe Timm, one of the most prestigious voices in contemporary German literature, are the topic of this book. Dealing with central myths of recent German history, all his narrations try to come to terms with national memory and the often difficult distinction between fact and fiction. As a whole Timm’s works can be seen as a critical portray of the federal republic, not only illustrating but also amending and always reflecting the process of collective mythologisation. The author considers this tension by using a combination of narratology and memory studies to describe Timm’s literary project as well as demonstrate the role of the novels within the national memory culture.