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Germany remembers Günter Grass one year after his death

April 13, 2016

Nobel Prize-winner Günter Grass, one of Germany's most significant post-war writers, died on April 13, 2015. Now, a re-edited version of his final three autobiographical works has been published.

https://p.dw.com/p/1IUPB
Günter Grass in 2005, Copyright: picture alliance/dpa//Agencja Gazeta/D. Sadowski
Image: picture alliance/dpa//Agencja Gazeta/D. Sadowski

"Peeling the Onion," in which Günter Grass admitted being a part of the Nazi Waffen SS commando, is part of the memoir trilogy which has been re-published one year after his death. "The Box" (2008) and "Grimm's Words" (2010) are also included.

Grass, who was born in what is now Polish Gdansk in 1927, is known for working through not only his personal past but also Germany's collective past in his literary works. He focused on topics ranging from the Nazi invasion of Poland in "Tin Drum" to the trials of ageing in "Vonne Endlichkait," which was published posthumously.

Marking one year after the Nobel Prize-laureate's death, a so-called Long Night for Günter Grass is being held Wednesday (13.04.2016) in Lübeck, where he lived for many years toward the end of his life. Prominent figures in Germany's literary scene, including Hanjo Kesting, Christof Siemes and Benjamin Lebert will be holding talks and discussions highlighting various aspects of the author's life.

Are you unfamiliar with Günter Grass' work? Try starting with these six books. For more on the life of the author, click through the gallery below:

kbm/eg (with dpa)