The Terezín diaries of Egon Redlich from the perspective of writing theory

The texts of Egon Redlich are viewed from the perspective of theory and didactics of text composition, in which autobiographic writing has mainly abreactive functions for the writer. The Terezín diaries (1942–1944) of Egon Redlich (1916–1944) are written in the form of a chronicle for his fiancée or a biography for his new-born son. For their author, the entries had more than just documentary or cathartic purpose. The text's gradually eveloping literary methods (intertextuality, generic variability ranging from chronicle and description to exemplum and anecdote, to humour and irony) is what makes the diaries a literarily valuable message to readers who manage to outlive the absurd war.