Trnka - Revolutionary Subjects: German Literatures and the Limits of Aesthetic Solidarity with Latin America

In his exploration of dialectical criticism, Marxism and Form, Fredric Jameson decried the inability to imagine anything other than what is in philosophy and political science, drawing the determined conclusion: It therefore falls to literary criticism to continue to compare the inside and the outside, existence and history, to continue to pass judgment on the abstract quality of life in the present, and to keep alive the idea of a concrete future. To those who remind mesome daily, some at intervalsof the social urgency of literature, I am deeply indebted.

First among them is always Andrew Oppenheimer, who has accompanied me and this book through every stage of its writing. A thoughtful interlocutor, keen editor, and supportive and patient friend, I am grateful to share my life and work with Andrew.

Bettina Brandt provided much encouragement, and kindly read Chapter Two. Her intellectual curiosity and energy are a great source of inspiration to me. A. Hunter Bivens commented on Chapter Three, and was always generous in sharing his considerable insight into East German cultural policy. Patrizia McBride shared her thoughts about Brauns Expressionist referents well before the book was a book; an anonymous reviewer for the German Studies Review also provided feedback on what became Chapter Three. Barton Byg commented on Chapter Four, and afforded me the opportunity to present and discuss parts of it at The University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Daniel Purdy provided the chance to discuss an early version of Chapter Five at Pennsylvania State University. Barbara Potthast invited me to discuss the project at the Department of Iberian and Latin American History at the University of Cologne.

My work at the German Literature Archives in Marbach was generously supported by a C.H. Beck postdoctoral fellowship. Anna Kinder and Marcel Lepper were particularly helpful during my time there, and afforded me the chance to present parts of Chapter Two to other researchers and staff. Hans Magnus Enzensberger and F.C. Delius graciously granted me permission to work with their materials housed at the archives. The University of Scranton provided sabbatical support that allowed me time to write.

Series editors Scott Denham, Jonathan Petropoulos, and Irene Kacandes provided feedback on the manuscript that was remarkable in both its focus and timeliness. Beyond her role as an editor, Irene has supported the projectand metremendously, making time to meet and talk wherever we happened to cross paths, be it in Berlin, Amsterdam, or between panels at the GSA. Editorial director Manuela Gerlof and project editor Stella Diedrich have been a pleasure to work with.

Leslie Adelson, David Bathrick, Natalie Melas, and Debra Castillo offered guidance early on in this project. Sky Arndt-Briggs, Christine Becker, Crina Gschwandtner, Marike Janzen, Susan Mndez, Anna Parkinson, Victoria Rizo Lenshyn, Nikka Pierce, and Yamile Silva have all shared well-timed and much appreciated encouragement. Ileana Szymanski provided a second pair of eyes in preparing my translations from the Spanish of Leopoldo Zea.

Finally, thanks to my family for their love and support.