A broad-ranging introduction to the East German luminary Christa Wolf, her work and times that builds upon and moves beyond foundational interpretative frameworks by articulating the global relevance of her oeuvre today. Bringing East German culture alive to students, teachers, scholars and the general public, it connects socialist East Germany and the lived experiences of its citizens to nations and cultures around the world. The collection focuses on topical matters including the search for authenticity, agency, race, cosmopolitanism, gender, environmentalism, geopolitics, war, and memory debates, as well as movie adaptations and Wolf’s film work with DEFA, marketing, and international reception. Contributions by senior and emerging scholars from across the globe emphasize Wolf’s position as an author of world literature and an important critical voice in the 21st century.