Judith Hermann, a renowned German author, gained fame in 1998 with her collection "Sommerhaus, später," which introduced a unique, dreamlike prose style. Five years ago, she participated in the Frankfurt Poetics Lectures, leading to her book "Wir hätten uns alles gesagt," where she shared personal stories about her family, including her father's struggles with depression. In her latest work, "Ich möchte zurückgehen in der Zeit," Hermann presents an autobiographical essay rather than a conventional novel, delving into significant family history.

The essay recounts the life of Hermann's maternal grandfather, who joined the Nazi Party in 1932 and served with the Waffen-SS, a fact that had been largely ignored by the family. Hermann reflects on the legacy of silence surrounding her grandfather's past, describing how family narratives often excluded discussions of his affiliation with a dark chapter of German history. She was born in 1970, years after her grandfather had died, leaving her to grapple with the implications of his life and the family's collective amnesia.

"Ich möchte zurückgehen in der Zeit" serves as a literary attempt to confront that silence and reconcile with her family's history. Hermann's reflections are not only a personal exploration but also a broader commentary on the struggle to address uncomfortable truths within families and society. Through her writing, she seeks to acknowledge and break the silence that has surrounded her grandfather's actions, offering readers a poignant meditation on memory, identity, and the need to confront the past.