Herta Müller
Herta Müller
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Herta Müller was born on August 17, 1953, in Nițchidorf (now part of the village of Vărădia de Mureș), a small community of Romanian Germans in what is now Romania. Her full name is Herta Steltzer Müller.
Birth and Death Dates
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August 17, 1953
(Still alive)
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Romanian-German poet, novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature (2009).
Early Life and Background
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Müller's early life was marked by her experiences growing up as a member of the Romanian Germans, also known as Saxons. Her family had lived in Romania for generations, but they maintained their German culture and language. Müller's father worked on the collective farm, while her mother took care of the household. The family was forced to flee Romania after the 1989 revolution, settling in Germany.
Müller's childhood experiences greatly influenced her writing, which often explores themes of identity, language, and the human condition under oppressive regimes.
Major Accomplishments
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Awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature (2009)
Published numerous collections of poetry and novels, including _Nadirs_ (1991) and _Atemschaukel_ (2009)
Screenwriter for several films, including _Land of Darkness_ (1988)Notable Works or Actions
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Müller's writing often deals with the complexities of identity, language, and the human condition under oppressive regimes. Her works include:
Nadirs (1991) - A collection of poetry that explores themes of identity, language, and the impact of the Ceaușescu regime on Romanian society.
* Atemschaukel (2009) - A novel that tells the story of a young woman's experiences under the Nazi regime in Romania during World War II.
Impact and Legacy
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Müller's writing has had a significant impact on literature worldwide. Her Nobel Prize win marked recognition for her unique voice and perspective, which shed light on the experiences of those living under oppressive regimes. Her work continues to be studied and translated into many languages.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Müller's writing is widely quoted and remembered due to its thought-provoking exploration of identity, language, and human condition. Her unique voice and perspective have made her a prominent figure in literature.
Quotes by Herta Müller
Herta Müller's insights on:
I believe that literature always goes precisely there where the damage to a person has been done.
For me, each journey to Romania is also a journey into another time, in which I never knew which events in my life were coincidence and which were staged. This is why I have, in every public statement I have made, demanded access to the secret files kept on me which, under various pretexts, have invariably been denied me.
Literature speaks with everyone individually - it is personal property that stays inside our heads. And nothing speaks to us as forcefully as a book, which expects nothing in return other than that we think and feel.
It was only against my mother's will that I attended the preparatory high school in the city. She wanted me to become a seamstress in the village. She knew that if I moved to the city, I would become corrupted. And I was. I started to read books.
Through writing, one experiences something different to what one experiences with the five senses one has because language is a different metier.