His works belong predominantly to the new objectivity literary style, a style associated with an emotionless reportage approach, with precision of. Primo levi called the novel the greatest book ever written about german resistance to the nazis, and i would agree. In his gripping novel alone in berlin, hans fallada tells the true story of two simplehearted people from the german working classes, who decide to resist hitlers regime. Fallada folows the fates of quite a number of characters, but the focal points of the novel are otto and anna quangel and their small acts of defiance against the. Fallada was able to hold a copy before he died, and it is the book of his that has done most to revive interest in his writing, well beyond germany. Inspired by a true story, hans falladas alone in berlin is the gripping tale of an ordinary mans determination to defy the tyranny of nazi rule. Visit now to browse our huge range of products at great prices. Alone in berlin by hans fallada books the guardian. Alone in berlin features the story that continues to revise and resonate an act of defiance in naziera germany is the subject of a film based on a novel that, when it finally came out in. Written in two months in 1946, alone in berlin, hans falladas account of a workingclass couples resistance to the nazi regime, poses profound moral questions. Alone in berlin by hans fallada the times and whsmith have chosen the 50 best paperbacks of 2010, from which our judging panel, led by ian rankin, has picked a shortlist of 12. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. Hans fallada brilliantly creates an atmosphere of fear, where all the characters are afraid of. Alone in berlin by hans falladajames buchan welcomes the supposed rediscovery of a novel about an ordinary german couple who.
Hans fallada has 8 books on goodreads with 76458 ratings. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Fallada folows the fates of quite a number of characters, but the focal points of the novel are otto and anna quangel and their small acts of defiance against the nazis, based on the reallife case of otto an elise hampel. Alone in berlin audio book by hans fallada audio books. Written in two months in 1946, alone in berlin, hans fallada s account of a workingclass couples resistance to the nazi regime, poses profound moral questions. About the author hans fallada was the pseudonym of rudolph ditzen, who was born in 1893 in berlin, the son of a superior court judge. When we first meet otto and anna quangel we have the sense that their relationship is very static.
While its depiction of wartime berlin is a season in hell, this is a wonderful book that slowly ensnares you, at once gripping. In a richly detailed portrait of life in berlin under the nazis, it tells the sweeping saga of one workingclass couple who decides to take a stand when. Alone in berlin by hans fallada penguin books australia. Jan 12, 2017 adapted from hans falladas 1947 novel and based on a true story, alone in berlin is dour and flavorless. Michael hofmann is the author of several books of poems and a book of criticism, behind. Prior to wwii, his novels were international bestsellers.
Mar 04, 2010 a fabulous thriller, and huge uk bestseller. Click to read more about nightmare in berlin by hans fallada. Jan 28, 2010 buy alone in berlin penguin modern classics 01 by hans fallada, geoff wilkes, michael hofmann isbn. Alone in berlin by hans fallada, michael hofmann waterstones. Alone in berlin, the title of michael hofmanns new english translation of hans falladas 1947 novel, is far less piquant than the german original.
Explore books by hans fallada with our selection at. He died of a morphine overdose in 1947, just weeks before the publication of alone in berlin. His life was checkered by a failed adolescent suicide pact in which his friend died, addiction to morphine and alcohol, periods of incarceration in prison and mental hospitals, and brushes with the nazi regime. Falladas book was one of the first antinazi novels to be published by a german after world war ii. The book has the suspense of a john le carre novel, and offers a visceral, chilling.
Rudolf ditzen, who wrote under the name hans fallada, lived a chaotic life. An act of rebellion, blandly told in alone in berlin. Buy alone in berlin penguin modern classics 01 by hans fallada, geoff wilkes, michael hofmann isbn. This changes when elises brother is killed early in the war. Jun 05, 2009 hans fallada the penname of rudolf ditzen wrote this book in a frenzy in just 24 days, and died just weeks before its publication. Written in two months in 1946, alone in berlin, hans falladas account of a workingclass couples resistance to the nazi regime. Based on a true story, this neverbeforetranslated masterpiece was overlooked for years after its authora bestselling writer before world war ii who found himself in a nazi insane asylum at wars enddied just before it was published. Hans fallada, pen name of rudolf wilhelm friedrich ditzen, born july 21, 1893, greifswald, germanydied february 5, 1947, berlin, german novelist who was one of the most prominent exponents of the realistic style known as neue sachlichkeit new objectivity. This penguin classics edition contains an afterword by geoff wilkes, as well as facsimiles of the original gestapo file which inspired the novel. Alone in berlin features the story that continues to. Buy alone in berlin by hans fallada 2010 paperback by isbn.
Sinking into alcohol and drug addiction, he was a broken man by the end of his life, and his final novel is. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. It is based on the true story of a workingclass husband and wife who, acting alone, became part of the german resistance. Immediately download the hans fallada summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more everything you need for. Alone in berlin by hans fallada was written just after the war.
The brief remainder of his life was spent in and out of hospitals and wards. Alone in berlin, by hans fallada trs michael hofmann the. The resulting moral growth of the quangels is hans falladas main concern. Hans fallada, the pen name of rudolph wilhelm adolf ditzen 18931947, reportedly wrote alone in berlin in just 24 days. Inspired by a true story, hans fallada s alone in berlin is the gripping tale of an ordinary mans determination to defy the tyranny of nazi rule. Alone in berlin by hans fallada, 9780241277027, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Jeder stirbt fur sich allein is a 1947 novel by german author hans fallada. The book was turned into a movie in 2016, starring emma thompson. Mar 20, 2016 alone in berlin features the story that continues to revise and resonate an act of defiance in naziera germany is the subject of a film based on a novel that, when it finally came out in. Some of his better known novels include little man, what now. But when jewish producers in hollywood made his 1932 novel, little man, what now. Hans fallada author hans fallada was born in germany in 1893. Alone in berlin is a very fine novel about german resistance to nazism.
Adapted from hans falladas 1947 novel and based on a true story, alone in berlin is dour and flavorless. Fallada died from an overdose of morphine on 5 february 1947 in berlin. Buy alone in berlin audio book by hans fallada online from the works. As the movie opens, we see a young german soldier running through the weeods, and he is shot and killed. Please provide me with your latest book news, views and. The actors do what they can to shade underwritten characters, but mr. Inspired by a true story, hans falladas alone in berlin is. If youve ever wondered what it is like to live in a fascist regime then you need to read hans falladas translated classic, alone in berlin, first published in 1947 u. Alone in berlin fallada, hans, hofmann, michael livres. Its not everyday that you read a book for which you are profoundly grateful. A tiein edition of falladas bestselling ww2 novel, to accompany the major new film starring emma thompson and brendan gleeson. Falladas alone in berlin with a sense of gratitude. The hampels now begin leaving hundreds of postcards all over berlin calling for civil. When unassuming couple otto and anna quangel receive the news that their beloved son has been killed fighting in france, they are shocked out of their quiet existence and begin a silent campaign of defiance.
It was based on the case of elise and otto hampel, a poorly educated and impecunious couple living in the city, who had no history of political activity but felt inspired to civil insubordination against nazi rule. Falladas book was one of the first antinazi novels to be published by a. Otto and anna quangel in the novel are based on otto and elise hampel who, to begin with, are not by any means hostile to the national socialists. About the author rudolph ditzen 18931947, one of the most famous german writers of the interwar era, better known by his penname hans fallada the last name comes from a brothers grimm tale about a horse with magical powers produced a substantial body of work during his life fiction and nonfiction, childrens books, journalism and political essays. Does their relationship change over the course of the novel. Falladas witness to quotidian life in hitlers germany sets the holocaust in its actual context, thereby showing the real horror of its relief. Otto and anna quangeln are true supporters of the fuhrer, until their only child is killed at the frontline in 1940.