Jenny Erpenbeck - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Jenny Erpenbeck is a German author and opera director, born on March 12, 1967, in East Berlin, East Germany.
- 2. She studied music theater directing at the Hanns Eisler Music Conservatory in Berlin and later worked as an opera director before turning to writing.
- 3. Erpenbeck is known for her novels, short stories, and essays that often explore themes of memory, history, and identity in relation to Germany's past, particularly the East German experience.
- 4. One of her most acclaimed works is the novel "Visitation" (2008), which follows the history of a house and its various occupants over the course of a century, reflecting on the passage of time and the impact of historical events.
- 5. Erpenbeck's novel "The End of Days" (2012) won the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize. The novel follows the various possible lives of a woman born in Galicia in the early 20th century.
- 6. She has also written a collection of short stories titled "The Old Child" (2005) and a novel titled "Go, Went, Gone" (2015), which explores the refugee crisis in Germany and the complexities of migration and identity.
- 7. Erpenbeck's writing is characterized by its precise, evocative language and its ability to weave together personal narratives with broader historical and political contexts.
- 8. She has been recognized with numerous literary awards, including the Thomas Mann Prize, the Joseph Breitbach Prize, and the Hans Fallada Prize.
- 9. In addition to her writing, Erpenbeck has also worked as a dramaturge and director for opera productions in Germany and abroad.
- 10. She continues to be a prominent voice in contemporary German literature, with her works translated into multiple languages and garnering critical acclaim worldwide.