Judith Hermann’s Exploration of Family History in “I Desire to Head Back in Time”

German author Judith Hermann’s latest book, I Want to Go Back in Time, delves into her family’s past, specifically focusing on the silence and repression surrounding her grandfather’s role during World War II. The function explores themes of memory, forgetting, and the challenges of uncovering difficult truths within a family’s history.

A Journey into the Past

Hermann’s exploration begins with a search for information about her grandfather, an SS member stationed in Radom, Poland, during the war. The book details her attempts to trace his history, relying on limited evidence – a single photograph from 1941 and fragmented memories from her mother [1]. This initial investigation proves challenging, as her mother expresses reluctance to revisit painful memories and accuses her daughter of seeking material for her writing.

Exploring Memory and Repression

The narrative then shifts to Naples, Italy, where Hermann visits her sister’s family. Here, the pursuit of her grandfather’s legacy is complicated by the everyday realities of family life, with difficult topics often avoided [2]. Hermann reflects on the ways memories are passed down – or suppressed – across generations, and the impact of these silences on individual identity.

Unresolved Family Secrets

The book also includes a mysterious anecdote about the temporary disappearance of her husband’s parents, who vanished on a short trip and later returned after weeks, having visited Poland for an unexplained reason. This event represents another unresolved mystery within the family history, a “blank space” that remains unfilled [1].

Hermann’s Literary Style and Recognition

Judith Hermann is a highly acclaimed German author, with cumulative book sales exceeding 1.6 million copies and translations into over 35 languages [1]. She is known for her minimalist writing style and her exploration of human relationships and the search for identity. Her debut, Summerhouse, Later, brought her significant recognition, establishing her as a prominent voice in German-language literature [2]. Hermann has received numerous literary awards, including the Wilhelm-Raabe-Literaturpreis in 2023 and the Bremen Prize for Emerging Writers in 2022 [1].

About the Book

I Want to Go Back in Time, published in February 2026 by S. Fischer, is a slim volume that offers a profound meditation on the complexities of family memory and the enduring impact of the past [1]. It is a work that acknowledges the fragmentary and unreliable nature of memory while highlighting the writer’s role in seeking meaning and understanding.