Gunter Grass Illuminates Historic Gdansk!
Gunter Grass, the Nobel laureate author of ‘The Tin Drum,’ has often traveled to his hometown of Gdansk, to find inspiration for his art. Having experienced life in the city prior to the Second World War, Grass has had much to offer readers who have only lived in Gdansk since its rebirth as a Polish city. The telling of history of Gdansk has been subject to external pressures and misinformation, so Grass’ works have helped to further clarify debated points, for both German and Polish readers alike.
Grass has a special connection with Polish writers, for whom he often served as a steward of sorts while they were being censored and repressed. While Grass has helped to inform the world outside Poland of the situation there, he has also helped Poles to understand themselves, and overcome the information gap they suffered while under Soviet influence.