Brigitte Reimann's Stepdaughter Christine Burgartz Reimagines the Author's Final Years in a Novel

Christine Burgartz, the daughter of Brigitte Reimann's last husband, has published a novel that reimagines the final phase of the East German author's life, who died in 1973. The book, described by Burgartz as a "fictional story" inspired by "real events," offers a critical portrayal of her father. The novel arrives amid a resurgence of interest in Reimann, marked by her 90th birthday and 50th death anniversary in 2023, which triggered numerous publications, including a biography by Carsten Gansel. Burgartz's work, structured in 53 chapters, alternates between two women who never met but share a deep emotional and intellectual connection. The narrative explores themes relevant to contemporary women, though the author emphasizes its fictional nature. The novel is published by Aufbau Verlag, which has been central to the Reimann revival.