Alone in Berlin

Critics

• Book Review: Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada Share

  Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada is a fic­tional book, based on a true story, describ­ing the life in Ger­many under the Third Reich. The book’s title in the U.S. is Every Man Dies Alone. Fal­lada intro­duces the reader to a world where fear and ter­r ... (read full critics)

  blogcritics published on Mon, 23 Jan 2012

• Alone in Berlin

  Translation by Michael Hofmann.This classic of twentieth century German literature, recently published in an excellent translation, tells the story of an ordinary couple whose quiet resistance to the Nazis in their home town of Berlin, costs them the ... (read full critics)

  bookgroup published on Thu, 7 Oct 2010

3 Reviews

• 

  Worth reading

  A tale of quiet, subtle resistance. Too lazy and probably too rusty to read it in the original German!

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  Liz4211 said on Aug 24, 2011 about the Paperback edition | Add your feedback

• *** This comment contains spoilers! ***

  

  The author Hans Fallada died in Berlin in 1947. He wrote under this pseudonym, his real name was Rudolph Ditzen. This book has been translated by Michael Hofmann.
  I feel that I have to give this book 3* (good) rating even though I did not like it. I did not like the writing style but I do wonder ... (continue)

  The author Hans Fallada died in Berlin in 1947. He wrote under this pseudonym, his real name was Rudolph Ditzen. This book has been translated by Michael Hofmann.
  I feel that I have to give this book 3* (good) rating even though I did not like it. I did not like the writing style but I do wonder that sometimes descriptions and meanings can change in translation. To coin the phrase "lost in translation". The writer depicts how life must have been under Nazi Germany living in Berlin. The lack of trust, continually watching your own back, being spied upon and constantly living with paranoia. The desperate lengths people will go to stay out of trouble and those who will do anything for the Nazi's both out of their own belief and out of terror. The book shows the nature of those with power and how they abuse their own. Is this out of terror for themselves if they fail? Or is it the brutal brainwashing of the regime that has turned them into such characters? Otto's act of rebellion was both stupid and selfish. He must have known that one day he would get caught, he even sensed it. It was not just his life to pay but that of his wife, her family and the unfortunate Trudel and her husband. I realise that my review does not do this book the justice that it perhaps deserves but it was not for me.

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  Booketta said on Feb 28, 2011 about the Paperback edition | 1 feedback

• 

  Original title: Jeder stirbt für sich allein

  One of the best books I've read for ages. First published in 1947, this is a (new?) translation by Michael Hofmann. Harrowing realism based on a true story and truly gripping.
  ***
  Blurb:
  Otto, an ordinary German living in a shabby apartment block, tries to stay out of trouble under Nazi rule. Bu ... (continue)

  One of the best books I've read for ages. First published in 1947, this is a (new?) translation by Michael Hofmann. Harrowing realism based on a true story and truly gripping.
  ***
  Blurb:
  Otto, an ordinary German living in a shabby apartment block, tries to stay out of trouble under Nazi rule. But when he discoveres his only son has been killed fighting at the front he's shocked into an extraordinary act of resistance, and starts to drop anonymous postcards attacking Hitler across the city. If caught, he will be executed. Soon this silent campaign comes to the attention of ambitious Gestapo inspector Escherich, and a murderous game of cat-and-mouse begins. Whoever loses, pays with their life.

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  wgeddert said on May 23, 2010 | Add your feedback

Book Details

• Rating:
  (19)
  • 5 stars
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• English Books
• Others 608 Pages
• ISBN-10: 184614082X
• ISBN-13: 9781846140822
• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Pub date: Feb 02, 2009
• Also available as: Paperback and eBook

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