Christa Wolf (née Ihlenfeld; 18 March 1929, Landsberg an der Warthe – 1 December 2011, Berlin, http://www.fembio.org/english/biography.php/woman/biography/christa-wolf/ ) was a German literary critic, novelist, and essayist. She was one of the best-known writers to emerge from the former East Germany.
In Cassandra (1983) the author retells the story of the fall of Troy, but from the point of view of the woman whose visionary powers earned her contempt and scorn. Written with the benefit of the author’s Greek travels and studies, the work speaks to us in a pressing monologue whose inner focal points are patriarchy and war. In four accompanying pieces, which take the form of travel reports, journal entries, and a letter, Wolf describes the novel’s genesis. Incisive and intelligent, the entire volume represents an urgent call to examine the past in order that we might even imagine constructing a better future. This is a challenging read but will reward anyone with an interest in the struggles of women and the meaning of history.
If that prospect entices you, enquire at your local library or consult http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cassandra-Christa-Wolf/dp/1907970118/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442830840&sr=8-1&keywords=cassandra+wolf for full bibliographic detail.
200 pages in Daunt Books
First published 1983
ISBN 978-1907970115
Christa Wolf