Member-only story

Gilgi Neversink Irmgard Keun: A Life in Literature and Exile

Clarence Mitchell

·3.6k Followers· Follow

Published in Gilgi (Neversink) Irmgard Keun

4 min read

328 View Claps

31 Respond

Save

Listen

Gilgi (Neversink)

by Irmgard Keun

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3244 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	242 pages

Gilgi Neversink Irmgard Keun, A German Writer Who Gained Fame With Her Satirical Novels In The 1930s. Gilgi (Neversink) Irmgard Keun

Early Life and Education

Gilgi Neversink Irmgard Keun was born on February 6, 1905, in Cologne, Germany. Her father, Otto Keun, was a successful businessman, and her mother, Maria, was a housewife. Keun had a younger brother, Hans.

Keun attended a Catholic high school in Cologne, but she was expelled in 1921 for her rebellious behavior. She then enrolled in a commercial school, where she studied shorthand and typing. After graduating, she worked as a secretary for a few years.

Writing Career

In 1929, Keun published her first novel, Gilgi, eine von uns ("Gilgi, One of Us"). The novel was a satirical look at the lives of young women in the Weimar Republic. It was a critical and commercial success, and it established Keun as a rising star in German literature.

Keun followed up Gilgi with a series of other successful novels, including Das Kunstseidenmädchen ("The Artificial Silk Girl") (1932),which became her most famous work. The Artificial Silk Girl is a satire of the consumerist culture of the Weimar Republic. It tells the story of Doris, a young woman who works in a factory that produces artificial silk. Doris is disillusioned with her life and dreams of a better future.

Keun's novels were critical of the social and political conditions of the Weimar Republic. She wrote about the poverty, unemployment, and social unrest that were rampant in Germany at the time. Her novels were also critical of the rise of Nazism.

Exile

In 1933, the Nazis came to power in Germany. Keun's novels were banned by the Nazis, and she was forced to flee the country. She went to Amsterdam, where she lived for several years. In 1940, she moved to New York City, where she remained for the rest of her life.

In exile, Keun continued to write. She published several novels, including Nach Mitternacht ("After Midnight") (1937) and Feuer in der Asche ("Fire in the Ashes") (1949). These novels dealt with the themes of exile, loss, and redemption.

Later Years

Keun never returned to Germany after the war. She lived in New York City until her death in 1982. She became a US citizen in 1955.

In her later years, Keun received recognition for her work. In 1978, she was awarded the Fontane Prize, one of Germany's most prestigious literary awards.

Legacy

Gilgi Neversink Irmgard Keun is considered one of the most important German writers of the 20th century. Her novels are still read and studied today. They offer a valuable insight into the social and political conditions of the Weimar Republic and the Nazi era.

Keun's work is also important for its feminist themes. She wrote about the challenges faced by women in a patriarchal society. Her novels are a testament to the strength and resilience of women.

Gilgi Neversink Irmgard Keun is a writer who deserves to be remembered for her contributions to German literature and for her courage in the face of adversity.

Gilgi (Neversink)

by Irmgard Keun

4.4 out of 5