Exgrassperorating German.

GRASS, Gunter, 1927-2015; TWO States, One Nation? (Book); TIN Drum, The (Book : Grass); FICTION; NATIONALISM; GERMAN language

The article discusses the life and works of German writer, Gunter Grass. He wrote books, "Two States--One Nation," and "The Tin Drum." In his fiction and nonfiction, Grass has often obsessed about Group 47, the German writers East and West who met sadly and briefly after the war. According to Grass, nationalism itself is a bacillus. He'd rather see a confederation, a linkage of provinces sort of like Switzerland. He will wash the taste of shame out of the mouth of the German language through his works. It's generally felt that Grass won't write another novel as completely satisfying as "The Tin Drum." This is because, after the trilogy, instead of staying put inside his characters he was loose on the streets, agitating for social justice.