Anna Seghers, Das wirkliche Blau: Eine Geschichte aus Mexiko [Benito's Blue: A Story from Mexico]

Kristy Boney (Central Missouri State University)

Ed. by Gerhard P. Knapp, University of Utah
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.4.1: German-language Writing and Culture: Germany, 500-present.
Vol. editors: Gerhard P. Knapp (University of Utah), Jennifer Marston William (Purdue University), Herbert Rowland (Purdue University), Jill E. Twark (East Carolina University)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1967

Places

Germany (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel

Resources

In 1967 Anna Seghers published Das wirkliche Blau. Eine Geschichte aus Mexiko. The title translates literally to “The Real Blue” but the story does not altogether take place in the realm of the “realistic”. Rather, the narrative in some ways resembles a fairy tale. As if foreshadowing the inevitable journey and subsequent transformation, Seghers' tale begins with the central character Benito slowly climbing up a hill. Consistent with the fantastic, the opening perspective does not come from Benito, but instead from Benito's mule. The animal, conscious of his master's actions, carries Benito's pottery that is painted with a certain “irresistible” and “inimitable” shade of blue. The mule introduces the importance of the pottery and its color to Benito's livelihood and family. Other motifs common to the fairy tale are introduced early and remain throughout: the...

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792 words

Citation: Boney, Kristy. "Das wirkliche Blau: Eine Geschichte aus Mexiko". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 14 July 2007 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=19323, accessed 09 June 2026.]

Anna Seghers, Das wirkliche Blau: Eine Geschichte aus Mexiko [Benito's Blue: A Story from Mexico]

Dates

Places

Genres and Modes

Resources

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