Original title: "Ich bin meine eigene Frau. Ein Leben" (I am my own woman. One life) by Charlotte von Mahlsdorf .
"A soft-spoken transvestite wanting nothing more than to live as a hausfrau, Charlotte von Mahlsdorf instead was caught up in the most harrowing dramas of 20th-century Europe, surviving both the Nazis and the Communists.
Originally published as I Am My Own Woman, this exquisitely written autobiography reveals her lifelong pursuit of sexual liberty. The story is reaching an entirely new readership of enthusiastic theater fans with I Am My Own Wife, the new Broadway show by Doug Wright about the life of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, winner of the 2004 Pulitzer Prize in drama."
Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, born as Lothar Berfelde on March 18, 1928, was a German transgender woman who gained fame for her preservation of the Gründerzeit Museum in Berlin. The Gründerzeit Museum, also known as the Gründerzeitmuseum or the Mahlsdorf Manor, housed a collection of items from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, providing a glimpse into German history and culture during that period.
Charlotte von Mahlsdorf was also known for her personal story of survival during the Nazi regime and the East German communist era. She managed to maintain the museum and her own identity as a transgender woman despite the challenges posed by the political and social climate of those times.
Von Mahlsdorf's life story and her efforts to preserve history and cultural artifacts were documented in the play "I Am My Own Wife" by Doug Wright, which premiered in 2003. The play, based on interviews and conversations with Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, explored themes of identity, history, and resilience.
Charlotte von Mahlsdorf's life and work have inspired discussions about LGBTQ+ history, preservation, and the complexities of personal and collective memory. Her story serves as a testament to the power of individual dedication and determination in the face of adversity.
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