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Alone in Berlin

By Hans Fallada
Penguin Classics
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
0.0 (0 reviews)
4.27 goodreads logo

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Check link for latest rating. ( 35,783 ratings, 3,821 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Set during World War II, Alone in Berlin follows an ordinary German couple who embark on a small but daring resistance against the Nazi regime after suffering a personal loss. Their clandestine activities unfold amidst the oppressive atmosphere of totalitarian rule, illustrating courage and moral defiance in the face of immense danger. This gripping story explores themes of resistance, fear, and the impact of individual actions during tumultuous times.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are interested in historical fiction that explores the themes of resistance and courage. The story offers a gripping depiction of life in Nazi Germany, focusing on ordinary individuals who take extraordinary risks to oppose an oppressive regime. With its intense atmosphere and well-drawn characters, it provides a profound reflection on humanity and resilience in the face of tyranny.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Berlin, 1940, and the city is filled with fear. At the house on 55 Jablonski Strasse, its various occupants try to live under Nazi rule in their different ways: the bullying Hitler loyalists the Persickes, the retired judge Fromm and the unassuming couple Otto and Anna Quangel.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A truly great book ... an utterly gripping thriller β€” Justin Cartwright, Sunday Telegraph

Berlin, 1940, and the city is filled with fear. At the house on 55 Jablonski Strasse, its various occupants try to live under Nazi rule in their different ways: the bullying Hitler loyalists, the Persickes; the retired judge, Fromm; and the unassuming couple, Otto and Anna Quangel. Then the Quangels receive the news that their beloved son has been killed fighting in France.

Shocked out of their quiet existence, they begin a silent campaign of defiance. A deadly game of cat and mouse develops between the Quangels and the ambitious Gestapo inspector, Escherich.

When petty criminals Kluge and Borkhausen also become involved, deception, betrayal, and murder ensue, tightening the noose around the Quangels' necks...

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Considered an extraordinary account of World War II and resistance within Nazi Germany, Alone in Berlin is praised for its compelling storytelling and portrayal of societal paranoia. The novel is seen as a classic study of resistance and evokes the grim reality of life under the Third Reich while maintaining a gripping narrative. With vivid characters and a haunting exploration of moral dilemmas, it is often described as harrowing yet masterly, comparable to great literary works by Dostoyevsky and Capote.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141189383

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 28 January 2010

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Michael Hofmann
  • Translated by Michael Hofmann

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 27.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 413g

Pages: 608

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Black Friday Sale Black Friday Sale: Books Black Friday Sale: Fiction Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction Hans Fallada In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Literary Fiction New Release Fiction New Zealand's Best Selling Books Penguin Books Penguin Classics Penguin Classics: General Fiction Series: Penguin Modern Classics

About the Author

Hans Fallada was one of the best-known German writers of the twentieth century. Born in 1893 in Greifswald as Rudolf Wilhelm Adolf Ditzen, he took his pen name from a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. His most famous works include the novels Little Man, What Now? and The Drinker. Fallada died from an overdose of morphine on 5 February 1947 in Berlin. Michael Hofmann is the author of several books of poems and a book of criticism, Behind the Lines, and the translator of many modern and contemporary authors. Penguin publish his translations of Kafka's Metamorphosis and Other Stories and Irmgard Keun's Child of All Nations.

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