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Ferdinand, the Man with the Kind Heart

By Irmgard Keun
Series: Penguin Modern Classics
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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
In Ferdinand, the Man with the Kind Heart by Irmgard Keun, the story follows Ferdinand, a compassionate man navigating life in post-World War II Germany. As Ferdinand interacts with a diverse cast of characters, he uses his innate kindness to navigate a world fraught with challenges and complexities. Through his journey, Ferdinand's optimistic worldview offers a poignant exploration of empathy and the human spirit in turbulent 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 general fiction tale if you are intrigued by vibrant character studies and complex emotional narratives. The story captures the post-war German landscape through the eyes of a charming and kind-hearted protagonist, interwoven with humour and poignant social commentary. It's ideal for readers who appreciate a mix of authenticity and warmth in storytelling.

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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

Newly translated by Michael Hofmann, this is the funny and touching final novel from the author of Child of All Nations.

Bombed-out Cologne after the war is a strange place to be. The black market in jam and corsets is booming, half-destroyed houses offer opportunities for stealing doors and eggcups, and de-Nazification parties are all the rage. Recently released from a prisoner-of-war camp, Ferdinand drifts around the city, strenuously avoiding his fiancรฉe and drinking brandy with his fabulous cousin. But is this any way to go on?

Told with Keun's characteristic humour, irony and generosity of spirit, this is a wry portrait of a man, a city, and a nation that asks how we go on living even in the face of total defeat.

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241441336

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 April 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Michael Hofmann
  • Translated by Michael Hofmann

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 10.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 143g

Pages: 192

Collections

Best Sellers at Book Hero Classic Fiction Classic General Fiction Fiction General Fiction In Stock Books In-Stock Fiction Books Irmgard Keun Literary Fiction New Release Fiction Penguin Books Penguin Classics Series: Penguin Modern Classics

About the Author

Irmgard Keun was born in Berlin in 1905 and found instant success with her novels Gilgi (1931) and The Artificial Silk Girl (1932). Everything changed in 1933 when the Nazis blacklisted her and destroyed her books; in response, she attempted to sue the Gestapo for loss of earnings. She left Germany (and her husband) in 1936 and lived in exile in Europe, where she wrote Child of All Nations (1936) and After Midnight (1937). She sneaked back into Germany in 1940 under a false name and spent the rest of the war in Cologne. In later years, she wrote for magazines and radio and raised a daughter alone. She died in 1982. Michael Hofmann is a poet and translator from German. For Penguin he has translated four books by Hans Fallada, in addition to works by Franz Kafka, Ernst J nger, Irmgard Keun and Jakob Wassermann.

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