• Linguistische Treffen in Wrocław •

The article focuses on biographical and literary affinities between two of the most important authors of twentieth-century German literature. This can also be of interest to an English reading public, as both of them are very widely translated into this language, Schmidt even with his “untranslatable” monster Bottom’s Dream (German original Zettel’s Traum) (which, though, remains outside of the scope of the present paper). So do not hesitate to read the above essay if it is not beyond your linguistic capacities. Important parallels are: Both were born in now no longer German-speaking regions in the East. Both were averse to main-stream literati and literary-traditions. Both wrote in uncommon, experimental style, Schmidt underlining this attitude by typographical experiments. Both were able to transform ordinary reading matter into important complex texts, establishing them as modern classics.