"The Giraffe’s Neck" by Judith Schalansky, or who is afraid of Inge Lohmark

Abstract

This article focuses on a Bildungsroman by contemporary German writer Judith Schalansky. The book The Giraffe's Neck is a multifaceted novel that tells, among other things, the story of East Germany's “separation” from the rest of the country, which leads to the slow depopulation of the region and the deterioration of living conditions. The author of the text introduces readers to the biography and work of Judith Schalansky, reviews the novel The Giraffe's Neck and gives examples of other novels by German male and female writers who address similar social themes in their work.