Shared Literary Heritages in the Non‐National Archive*

In 2013, I was asked by the weekly Die Zeit to record a lecture series about world literature, focusing on works of authors who received Nobel Prize (www.zeitakademie.de/seminare/die-schoenen-kuenste/weltliteratur/). The recording raised number unanswered questions, which four years later sought answer in my book Eine Weltgeschichte der deutschsprachigen Literatur, trying show that processes canonization, committed translators, critics and institutions such as universities, libraries, archives play special role designation something literature. And when became director German Literature Archive Marbach, given chance reflect even more detail, taking starting point statutes since its foundation 1955/56 has been going beyond national view. Along these lines, hope contribute transforming DLA into research archive for global literary data. his seminal essay “On Comparatism Colony,” Baidik Bhattacharya, following Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak Emily Apter, highlights extent literature debate suffered from Western, mainly American dominance. He adds further topic debate: politics archive. Bhattacharya describes archiving British India “lettered governance” colonial power historians (“On Comparatism” 681), form governance led biased selection material ways viewing it still favor English dominance today's debate. Consequently, remarkable areas are not written language neglected this This criticism points issues only convincing far is concerned but also shed light origin concept “Weltliteratur.” Once taken account, patterns resistance get complicated. Shortly after 1800, Christoph Martin Wieland Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, famous advisors Duke Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach at same time, both mentioned “Weltliteratur” did state clearly what they were referring to. Moreover, used exclusively intimate spheres, often contradicted himself, making difficult grasp original meaning (Birus). noted “Weltlitteratur” margins edition Horace's letters, alluding Roman urbanity (Weitz). According Wieland, meant aesthetic communication among most impressive time; Antiquity, happened Rome where Virgil, Horace, Ovid met. Around Weimar place be, with Schiller authors. Goethe seems have thought along similar lines. envisaged communication, yet distinctively modern one. World possible because post, ships, up-and-coming railway enabled contemporaries exchange faster than before, market disseminated products almost everywhere, part oriental interests (Mani, Recoding 52, passim). Looking products, however, soon skeptical mocked way moved ahead some representatives, greedy easy money excitement large audience, had sacrificed quality (Goethe 257; Birus 13). Today, pragmatic emerged builds Goethe's quotations: focuses social cultural circumstances help be disseminated. Be according David Damrosch, Pascale Casanova, Thomas O. Beebee's “German Literature” or views others, is—despite relevant restrictions English, French German—now understood literature: phenomenon can deduced study production through translation, market, reception, canonization (Richter 13–34). Furthermore, representation others focus come play. case wanted recognized authors, Lord Byron their counterparts, wrote capitals London Paris, while themselves residents small eastern town aimed industry order mark ambition. It coincidence who, amongst contemporaries, may first author sense own relevance and, therefore, kept all papers, manuscripts, well receipts butter wine, so future generations could work biography. As agents process matter, states. Their decisions collect collect, index predetermine fields, efforts. originated private initiative, interest Friedrich heritage other Swabian authors; directly involved. Since 1955/56, funded under different model, non-national archive—as an especially exile. write international Germany strong link country's culture, becoming increasingly diverse. Key words exile, cross-cultural heritage, decolonialization name focus—a literatures aspire become already normative word. debates Archive, together National Library Israel, project “Global Archives” (2017–2020). Its main idea collaboratively explore, index, Jewish emigrated Israel during Nazi period. A joint website Else Lasker-Schüler's paintings papers one outcomes (www.laskerschuelerarchives.org). 2019, activities like step: co-organized exhibition “Narrating Africa” Namibian broadcast audience (www.literatursehen.com/projekt/narrating-africa). initiative ran parallel negotiations Government Federal Republic that, 2021, resulted official recognition genocide Herero Nama peoples. Both partners, side, studied early twentieth-century documents somewhat violent history, present-day seldom attention state's borders although English. back Namibia's shattered Rémy Ngamije (The Eternal Audience One, 2019) Sylvia Schlettwein (Bullies, Beasts Beauties, 2012) portray life everyday Windhoek, desert, afropolitan communities cross African borders, constitute present continent. informed environments developments, acknowledges transcends frontiers examine reach out human beings. Seen lens debate, regarded act pays tribute cruel past moves towards collaborative projects shared heritages identified. Such will move representation. To put utopian perspective, reading public addressed change engage common history conflicts build new spheres would truly