Geissler, Christian

Geissler, Christian 

Born Dec. 25, 1928, in Hamburg. German writer (German Federal Republic).

As a representative of progressive Catholic youth, Geissler called the older generation to account for leaving the shame of war crimes and concentration camps as a heritage to their sons in the novel The Interpellation (1961; Russian translation, 1967). The problem of moral responsibility invariably occupies Geissler. His collection The End of the Interpellation (1967) includes television plays, stories, and reporting, linked, in the author’s words, by a common theme: “It is impossible to build a new building on an old foundation.” Geissler’s style is marked by an interest in documents, a combination of journalistic essay and psychological study, and by aphoristic turns of speech. He uses this style in radio and television broadcasts as well.

WORKS

“Schlachtvieh.” Neue Deutsche Literatur, 1963, no. 6.
Ende der Anfrage. Munich, 1967.
In Russian translation:
“Kholodnye vremena.” Inostrannaia literatura, 1967, no. 10.
“Konets zaprosa.” (Excerpt.) Literaturnaia gazeta, Oct. 9, 1968.

REFERENCES

Kopelev, L. “Synov’ia proklinaiut otsov.” Literaturnaia gazeta, Jan. 17, 1961.
Kopelev, L. “Nepreodolennoe proshloe.” Novyi mir, 1961, no. 6.
Knipovich, E. “Ob umenii ‘dumat’ vpered’.” Inostrannaia literatura, 1969, no. 3.

E. IA. RUBINOVA