Wonderful, Wonderful Times

novel by Jelinek

Also known as: “Die Ausgesperrten”

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July 21, 2026

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Wonderful, Wonderful Times is a satirical novel by Austrian author Elfriede Jelinek, published in 1980. The novel is noted for its exploration of gender oppression and female sexuality within a patriarchal society. Jelinek's work often challenges traditional literary conventions, employing linguistic experimentation to examine themes of dependency and authority. Wonderful, Wonderful Times is considered one of her significant novels, alongside others like Lust and Greed. Jelinek was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2004 for her contributions to literature.1

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Elfriede Jelinek
…the satiric Die Ausgesperrten (1980; Wonderful, Wonderful Times, 1990), Lust (1989; Lust, 1992), and Gier (2000; Greed, 2006). Her most notable plays included Was geschah, nachdem Nora ihren Mann verlassen hatte; oder, Stützen der Gesellschaften (1980; What Happened After Nora Left Her Husband; or, Pillars of Society, 1994), which she…
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…the satiric Die Ausgesperrten (1980; Wonderful, Wonderful Times, 1990), Lust (1989; Lust, 1992), and Gier (2000; Greed, 2006). Her most notable plays included Was geschah, nachdem Nora ihren Mann verlassen hatte; oder, Stützen der Gesellschaften (1980; What Happened After Nora Left Her Husband; or, Pillars of Society, 1994), which she…
Read More