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Nightmare in Berlin

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( 1,414 ratings, 173 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
Nightmare in Berlin by Hans Fallada delves into the aftermath of World War II, focusing on a couple's struggle with the chaos and despair that engulf Berlin during its reconstruction. The narrative explores the psychological and societal impacts of war as the protagonists navigate their shattered city, encountering both hope and hardship. Fallada provides an intimate look at human resilience in the face of overwhelming challenges.
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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?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy exploring the psychological and emotional landscapes of post-war societies. Set in the ruins of Berlin at the end of World War II, it offers a powerful and poignant narrative of a couple grappling with the turmoil and devastation around them. The author’s keen insight into human resilience amidst chaos renders this novel a compelling and thought-provoking read.

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Available for the first time in English, here is an unforgettable novel about the desolation of Hitler's post-war Germany.

Written with Fallada's distinctive power and vividness, Nightmare in Berlin captures the demoralised and desperate atmosphere of post-war Germany in a way that has never been matched or surpassed.

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

Available for the first time in English, here is an unforgettable portrayal by a master novelist of the physical and psychological devastation wrought in the homeland by Hitler's war.

Late April, 1945. The war is over, yet Dr Doll, a loner and 'moderate pessimist', lives in constant fear. By night, he is haunted by nightmarish images of the bombsite in which he is trapped - he, and the rest of Germany. More than anything, he wishes to vanquish the demon of collective guilt, but he is unable to right any wrongs, especially in his position as mayor of a small town in north-east Germany that has been occupied by the Red Army.

Dr Doll flees for Berlin, where he finds escape in a morphine addictionβ€”each dose is a 'small death'. He tries to make his way in the chaos of a city torn apart by war, accompanied by his young wife, who shares his addiction. Fighting to save two lives, he tentatively begins to believe in a better future.

Written with Fallada's distinctive power and vividness, Nightmare in Berlin captures the demoralised and desperate atmosphere of post-war Germany in a way that has never been matched or surpassed.

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?

Hans Fallada's Nightmare in Berlin is praised for its raw and honest depiction of post-war Berlin, highlighting the desolation and moral decay of the time. Reviewers commend its ability to capture the city's atmosphere, blending personal and collective struggles with vivid and sometimes painfully precise storytelling. The novel explores themes of survival, despair, and the fight to maintain sanity against the backdrop of a ravaged city, offering both literary and historical significance.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781925321197

Publisher: Scribe Publications

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 May 2016

Country: Australia

Imprint: Scribe Publications

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 151.0mm

Height: 209.0mm

Weight: 342g

Pages: 288

About the Author

Hans Fallada (1893-1947) was the pen name of German author Rudolf Ditzen, whose books were international bestsellers on a par with those of his countrymen Thomas Mann and Hermann Hesse. He opted to stay in Germany when the Nazis came to power, and eventually had a nervous breakdown when he was put under pressure to write anti-Semitic books. He was cast into a Nazi insane asylum, where he secretly wrote The Drinker. Immediately after the war he wrote his last two novels, The Nightmare and Alone in Berlin, but he died before either book could be published.

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