The current paper discusses Herta Müller's poetry essays in the context of contemporary autobiographical German writing. The question of referentiality of her essays will receive special attention; in these writings several aesthetic characteristics of autobiographical composition will also be shown. Furthermore, it will be demonstrated to what extent the effect of her essayistic writing is not only aesthetic, but also and mainly political.
Herta Müller's poetry essays; contemporary autobiographical writing; autobiographical essayism