Heiner Müller, Die Umsiedlerin oder Das Leben auf dem Lande [The Resettler Woman or Country Life]

John Milfull (University of New South Wales)
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Heiner and Inge Müller worked on

Die Unsiedlerin oder Das Leben auf dem Lande

from 1956 till 1961, with interruptions. The text records the often chaotic and contradictory developments in a GDR rural society moving from post-war devastation and hunger through land reform (back in the news since unification) to collectivisation. A first (student) production of the play in 1961 provoked massive criticism and was withdrawn; a further attempt at revision, under the title

Die Bauern

, was launched in 1964. As Ines Geipel records, it became clear that the hostility was undiminished. Inge Müller's name was dropped as co-author, the play was effectively banned, and Heiner and the producer B.K. Tragelehn were subjected to severe repressive measures culminating in his indefinite exclusion from the…

595 words

Citation: Milfull, John. "Die Umsiedlerin oder Das Leben auf dem Lande". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 05 April 2004 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=14463, accessed 23 November 2024.]

14463 Die Umsiedlerin oder Das Leben auf dem Lande 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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