Narratives and Counternarratives of German Borderscapes in Olivia Wenzel's 1000 Serpentinen Angst

Through a close reading of Wenzel’s literary de but, I reflect on the multifaceted images the novel creates of contemporary Germany and its contribution to the current reassessment of the role of borders in socio-cultural spheres. Applying the concepts of borderity and borderscape, I reveal the significance of Wenzel’s vivid illustration of the function of borders in the public sphere. I also illustrate Hanna Meretoja’s study of “metanarrative autofiction,” interpreting Wenzel’s novel as an example of this literary subgenre, which sharpens and extends the reader’s awareness of the role of narrative in society.