Novak, Helga (1935–)

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Novak, Helga (1935–)

German poet and novelist. Name variations: Helga M. Novak. Born Helga Maria Karlsdottir, Sept 8, 1935, in Berlin, Germany; studied journalism and philosophy at University of Leipzig.

Lived in East Germany, Iceland, France, Spain, and US before returning to East Germany; after writing of her nation's repressive politics in Die Ballade von der reisenden Anna (Ballad of Wandering Anna, 1958), was expelled from East Germany (1966) and settled in West Germany and later Poland; works, which are satirical and feminist in nature, include Margarete met dem Schrank (1978), Markische Feemorgana (1989), Silvatica (1998) and 2-vol. autobiography, Die Eisheiligen (Saints of Ice, 1979) and Vogel Federlos (Featherless Bird, 1982), which chronicles Germany through the war years and after. Received Bremer Literature award and Brandenburg Literature award.

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