Abstract

For many decades Germany has had a sizeable Turkish minority that lives in an uneasy co-existence with the Germans around them and as such has attracted considerable interest abroadwhere it tends to be seen as a measure of German tolerance. However, little is known about theactual situation of the Turks. This volume provides valuable information, presented in a mostoriginal manner in that it combines literary and cultural studies with social and political analysis.It focuses on the Turkish-born writer Emine Sevgi Özdamar, who writes in German and whosework, especially her highly acclaimed novel Das ist eine Karawanserei, is examined criticallyand situated in the context of German "migrant literature".

Eva Kolinsky is Professor of Modern German Studies at theUniversity of Keele with a special interest in contemporary German society and politics.

"... a ground-breaking and well-researched study, a lucid documentation of the impact of Turkish migration to Germany, bringing together materials from a range of disciplines,, including history, sociology, religious studies, and literature. The array of knowledge assembled in this volume is made accessible for the first time to an English speaking audience ... provides detailed background and varied accounts of historical and socio-political changes in a rapidly changing German society struggling with it its self-perception and frictions arising from the coexistence of Turks and Germans ... provides a well-founded academic analysis of data, trends, and traditions, yet still leaves room for the personal experiences and perspectives of Turks establishing their own identity and political voice in German society ... a great source for graduate German course investigating migrant culture and literature in contemporary German society."  · German Studies Review

"... offers and should be commended for an informative review of migrant literature in Germany, substantive statistics on the condition of migration to Germany, and a suggestive exchange with a migrant author in person—a rarity in the literature."  · H-Net Reviews (H-SAE)

"... an instructive introduction into the history of Turkish migration."  · Journal of Area Studies

David Horrocks is Lecturer in German at the University of Keele, concentrating on twentieth-century German literature with special emphasis on the reflection in literary works of socialissues and historical problems.