This book is the first to compare three contemporary women writing in German: Herta Müller (from Romania), Libuse Moníková (from Czechoslovakia), and Kerstin Hensel (from the GDR). Drawing on psychoanlytical, feminist, and performativity theory, it looks at images of the body and their relationship to the structures of their writing as well as analysing the social, cultural, and political contexts.

• 1: 'Daß dies der Osten ist Was im Kopf nicht aufhört': Introduction


• 2: Herta Müller: 'Das, was von innen kam, angesichts des Äußeren'


• 3: Libuše Moníková: 'Ich bin am Ort meines Ursprungs', 'Innen bin ich hohl'


• 4: Kerstin Hensel: 'Wer draußen steht, kann deutlicher sehen'


• 5: Interchanging Interpretations: Conclusion

Lyn Marven is a holder of a Leverhulme Early Careers Fellowship at Manchester University.