An Introduction to German Literature In 10 Writers

| © Unknown/WikiCommons
Lily Cichanowicz

As is the case in the realms of fine art and film, Germany’s literary legacy is an expansive one. From philosophy to fiction to verse poetry, Germans have made prolific contributions to humanity through their writing, something that has resulted in international recognition and, perhaps more importantly, a better understanding of the human condition.

Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956)

Bertolt Brecht is one of the most influential German poets and playwrights of the 20th century. He and his wife, the actress Helene Weigel, operated the Berliner Ensemble through which they presented Germany with their original theatrical productions. Brecht spent the final years of his life residing in East Berlin. Marxist thought permeated the themes and aesthetics of his works, and he even received the Stalin Peace Prize in 1954. His most influential works include The Threepenny Opera, Life of Galileo, Mother Courage and Her Children, and The Good Person of Szechwan. Today it is possible to visit Brecht’s former home in Berlin, which his wife converted into a museum upon his death in 1956.

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

Walter Benjamin (1892-1940)

Walter Benjamin was a German-Jewish social critic, writer, and philosopher. He is known as an ‘eclectic thinker’ who blended Marxist theory with other schools of thought, like Jewish mysticism and German romanticism. After studying philosophy at Humboldt University, Benjamin translated the works of Baudelaire into German and became an associated member of the Frankfurt School. He was friends with Bertolt Brecht, Hannah Arendt, Hermann Hesse, and acquainted with many other important thinkers of the time, like Theodor Adorno. Benjamin’s novel, Das Passagen-Werk (in English, ‘The Arcades Project’), is considered his magnum opus and was started in 1927 but never completed, only posthumously was it edited and published. With the onset of Nazi rule in the 1930s, Benjamin fled for his life and ultimately committed suicide in 1940 to escape being accosted by the Gestapo.

Hans Fallada (1893-1947)

Hans Fallada was a German writer who worked during the first half of the 20th century. He contributed to the literary style of new objectivity. Two of his most notable novels are Little Man, What Now? (1932) and Every Man Dies Alone, published in the year of his death. Fallada spent much of his early life working odd jobs, battling addiction, and even committing petty crimes to finance it. He proceeded to work as a journalist and eventually became the subject of Nazi scrutiny. By the time the war had ended, Fallada had also achieved fame and notoriety. Still, the state of society following the war – particularly the ubiquitous presence of fascism that still remained interwoven in the very fabric of the culture – drove him back into a state of depression followed by addiction, which ultimately led to his death in 1947.

Jenny Erpenbeck (1967)

Jenny Erpenbeck is a contemporary German writer and film director. Born in East Berlin, she is the granddaughter of the writer Hedda Zinner. In her young adulthood she studied the art of bookbinding, and then took charge of overseeing props and wardrobe production at theaters throughout Germany. After the Berlin Wall fell, she studied to become a musical theater director at Hanns Eisler Music Conservatory. Erpenbeck directed productions at several operas and even debuted an original play, Cats Have Seven Lives. From here, she has fostered a career in writing both plays and prose works. She is a columnist for the magazine Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and her most notable writings include Trinkets, Things That Disappear, and The End of Days.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)

Often regarded as Germany’s Shakespeare, no discussion of German literature would be complete without mentioning Goethe. Prone to illness as a youth, he initially pursued study in law. Yet, today he is mostly known for his versatile array of poetic works, which include both epic and lyric forms, among others. By the mere age of 25, he already achieved fame as a writer after the release of his novel The Sorrows of Young Werther. One of his most renowned works is his drama Faust. Goethe’s legacy extends beyond his poetry, however. He also served as a statesman, critic, novelist, and natural philosopher.

Christa Wolf (1929-2011)

Christa Wolf is largely regarded as East Germany’s literary darling. Yet, in retrospect, there is actually much to say about her complicated relationship with socialism and politics more broadly. Behind the wall, she wrote within the genre of socialist realism. Over the course of her development as a writer, however, novels like The Quest for Christa T. began to examine the relationship between the individual and socialist ideals, which was not as well received. Wolf remained in the literary limelight following the fall of the wall, but subsequently received a good deal of criticism in the West for her portrayal of life behind the wall and lack of denunciation for the authoritarian rule of the GDR. Yet, many of her fans would argue that she played a fundamental role in articulating a literary voice that was distinct to East Germany.

Hermann Hesse (1877-1962)

Hermann Hesse is a German writer, best known for his books Siddhartha, The Glass Bead Game, and Steppenwolf. Hesse was the son of two missionaries who worked for several years in India. He was born in the Black Forest, but spent much of his youth living in Switzerland. These multicultural experiences impacted him as a person and as a writer. Consequently, much of his work grapples with his own relationship with German nationalism. Hesse also cites Indian and Chinese philosophies as his major influences, something that was unique for the context within which he was writing. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1946.

Thomas Mann (1875-1955)

Thomas Mann is a German writer and social critic who worked primarily in the first half of the 20th century. Mann provided fascinating commentary on the psyches of artists and intellectuals through his writing, which often employed heavy doses of irony and symbolism. He was a member of the Exilliteratur movement, which was comprised of German writers who outwardly opposed the Nazi regime. During the reign of the Third Reich, Mann fled to Switzerland. His brother Heinrich Mann is also a famed radical writer, and three of his six children rose to literary prominence as well.

Günter Grass (1927-2015)

Günter Grass was a German writer and illustrator who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1999. Born in 1927, a central theme in Grass’ writing was the question of what it meant to be German after Nazism took hold of the country. He is recognized for his contributions to the genre of European magical realism, which was mostly evident in his 1959 novel, The Tin Drum. His other major works included the Danzig Trilogy, The Flounder, My Century, Crabwalk, and his memoirs. The combination of his political messages and his whimsical style of writing often divided people when it came to the critical reception of his work.

Anna Seghers (1900-1983)

Anna Seghers is best known for the ways she articulated the moral conundrum of German people in their complacency during World War II. Seghers herself was Jewish and a communist. Shortly after she joined this party she published her novel, Die Gefährten, which aptly warned against the perils of fascism. During World War II, she published her acclaimed novel The Seventh Cross. It offered one of the only published descriptions of life in concentration camps at the time. As the war bore onward, Seghers eventually fled to Mexico where she published her most notorious novel, Outing of the Dead Girls, and continued to work in anti-fascist activism, ultimately founding the Heinrich-Heine-Klub.

culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article