Friederike Kretzen

Ihr blöden Weiber is a short novel (141 pp.) by the German theatre maker and author Friederike Kretzen. After her study in Sociology and Ethnology, she worked in the theatre and moved to Switzerland in 1983. She worked and studied for extensive periods of time in the Netherlands, US and UK, each time returning to her home in Basel. Ihr blöden Weiber is her third novel.

Sometimes, a novel can be better understood if seen in a series or prospect of a publisher. A few years ago, I read Der Känguruhmann by Jürg Acklin, published by the same Swiss publishing house Nagel & Kimche. In similar fashion, both books present a very unusual perspective, written in a very quirky style. It seems both authors share a deliberately contrived, peculiar view or way of presenting their characters, in this case three very old women, sisters, all of a very high age.

This book irritated me even more than that previous book. There is no apparent plot, various chapters describe everyday occurrences, ideas and babble of the three demented old women.… (mere)