May 24, 2011 then the parade is over, and in the long hours after midnight sanna and gerti will face betrayal, death, and the heartbreaking reality of being young in an era devoid of innocence or romance. Irmgard keun born 1905 in berlin, died cologne 1982 is widely considered the best female novelist of the late 1930s in germany. After midnight by irmgard keun make literary productions. Now translated into english by the admirable anthea bell, the first since the original translation in 1938, it belongs into a select treasure collection of recently rediscovered notable german fiction, written either just before or right after world war ii. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. It is difficult to conceive of coming of age in a society where politics permeates and controls all aspects of life, from relationships to what you say or do. Buy after midnight neversink by ingrid keun from amazons fiction books store. In 1937, german author irmgard keun had only recently. We can admire her for her novel after midnight, a satirical look at life in nazi era germany, translated from the german by anthea bell.
It captures the unbearable tension, contradictions, and hysteria of prewar germany like no other novel. Jul 22, 2011 after midnight, published in exile after keun fled the nazis, is a darker, more driving, and to my eye more accomplished work. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. This translation, by althea bell, was published in the u. We can admire her for her novel after midnight, a satirical look at life in nazi era germany, translated from the german by anthea bell after midnight is a very funny book, maybe i should say witty. But sanna is telling her love story in frankfurt, germany, in the 1930s with the politics of hitler and. After midnight by irmgard keun meet your next favorite book.
Jul 21, 2011 after being arrested and interrogated by the gestapo, keun left her husband and escaped germany. Irmgard keun was born on 6 february 1905 in charlottenburg at the time an independent town, now part of berlin to eduard and elsa keun. A writer in the act of writing must fear neither his own words nor anything else in the world, heini tells algin in irmgard keuns after midnight. Then the parade is over, and in the long hours after midnight sanna and gerti will face betrayal, death, and the heartbreaking reality of being young in an era devoid of innocence or romance. Volume is in mint condition without marks, tears or folds. It is told in the first person by 19 yearold susanne moder, also known as sanna. Irmgard keun 6 february 1905 5 may 1982 was a german novelist.
Keun, in fact, even dared to seek damages from the gestapo for lost profits after it seized unsold copies of the novels. Buy after midnight new edition by keun, irmgard isbn. Keun has an amazing gift for exposing the conflict at the heart of the average citizen. After midnight ebook por irmgard keun 9781935554714. Keun herself fled in 1936 and, in after midnight, sanna increasingly feels the urge to leave. May 31, 2011 originally published in 1937, irmgard keuns novel after midnight chronicles the german citizenrys obliviousness to a nations plunge. Her first two books were bestsellers in her native germany. And susanne sanna moder, the narrator of irmgard keuns after midnight, loves such things. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. She wrote bestselling novels but once the nazis took power the books were withdrawn from circulation.
But sanna is telling her love story in frankfurt, germany, in the 1930s with the politics of hitler and nazism permeating not only the country but even these. But her second novel, the artificial silk girl, landed her on the nazi blacklist. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. She then returned to germany in 1940 under an assumed name and lived there until the end of the war. The novels protagonist spends her time interacting and socializing with a host of family members, friends and acquaintances, and falling in love with her fiance, franz. She is noted for her portrayals of the life of women and is. After midnight, published in exile after keun fled the nazis, is a darker, more driving, and to my eye more accomplished work. The author of after midnight, irmgard keun, once sued the gestapo im not sure that we should admire her for this, but it certainly took guts. Eric clapton later covered it for his eponymous album, released in 1970. After midnight is a very funny book, maybe i should say witty. After midnight by irmgard keun penguin books australia. It is not uncommon for relationships, clothing, parties and enjoyment of life to occupy the thoughts of a 19yearold ingenue.
After midnight by irmgard keun 1905 1982 is set nazi germany in 1936. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. If the original nach mitternacht is as lively as anthea bells snappy english translation,keun was not only a great satirist but also a great stylist. While she fled the country in 1936, she published several novels in amsterdam, including after midnight. After midnight is a fascinating book, one that provides a real insight into a country on the brink of selfdestruction. A midnight tale of the rising third reich originally published in 1937, irmgard keuns novel after midnight chronicles the german citizenrys obliviousness to a. After midnight by irmgard keun overdrive rakuten overdrive. In 1937, german author irmgard keun had only recently fled nazi germany with her lover joseph roth when she wrote this slim, exquisite, and devastating book. Im not sure that we should admire her for this, but it certainly took guts.
It is a love story, as much as anything, though love between the members of this nefarious gang of upstanding citizens. May 09, 20 after midnight is a masterpiece that deserves to be read and remembered anew. May 31, 2011 after being arrested and interrogated by the gestapo, keun left her husband and escaped germany. Irmgard keun 19051982 became a sensation in her native germany with the 1931 publication of her first novel, gilgi, when she was 21. Buy after midnight by irmgard keun from waterstones today. In 1987, clapton later rerecorded the song for a michelob beer commercial and then released the rerecording as a single. Yet even as it exposes human folly, the book exudes a. Keun s first two novels were german bestsellers before being burned by the third reich. Translator geoff wilkes is a lecturer in german at the university of queensland. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle. After being arrested and interrogated by the gestapo, keun left her husband and escaped germany.
As one character says, were all in a concentration camp, the whole nation is, its only the government can go running around free. In its deliberateness and daring, that act is consistent withand. Susanne sanna moder, the narrator of the slim novel, uses almost naive political impressions, the views of others and her memories in casting cast an indelible portrait of ordinary life at the time. The historical novel might be relatively safe because. After midnight irmgard keun 9781935554714 netgalley. May, 20 a writer in the act of writing must fear neither his own words nor anything else in the world, heini tells algin in irmgard keuns after midnight.
In 1940, three years after writing this novel, keun faked her own suicide and reentered germany, residing there until wars end. I ended the year with irmgard keuns 1937 novel after midnight, a surprising perspective on germany being transformed by nazism as viewed through the eyes of a young sybarite juggling party preparations and the man problems of her girlfriends against the looming background of encroaching totalitarianism and terrifying injustices. The jewish chornicle paid keun perhaps the highest compliment one could pay a german writer writing after 1933. After midnight, keun, irmgard, translated by anthea bell. I must get away, i kept thinking, i must get away from here. She was born into an affluent family and was given the autonomy to explore her passions. Her work was banned as subversive by the gestapo for her satirical portrayal of the impact of hyperinflation and the creeping evil embodied in the rise of nazi germany which brought on a destruction of much of normal morality. She wrote after midnight while in exile, and it provides a rich and jangling portrait of prewar germany, where neighbor rushed to inform on neighbor and nonaryans disappeared silently into the night. Keuns first two novels were german bestsellers before being burned by the third reich.
Aug 09, 2014 the author of after midnight, irmgard keun, once sued the gestapo. Now, at last, after midnight is available in the united states, the first title in melville houses neversink library. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Now translated into english by the admirable anthea bell, the first since the original translation in 1938, it belongs into a select treasure collection of recently rediscovered notable german fiction, written either just before or right after.
Told from the point of view of a 19yearold girl, sanna moder, who goes to live in. In 1940 keun staged her suicide and, under a false identity, reentered germany, where she lived in hiding. Sanna and her ravishing friend gerti would rather speak of love than. Told from the point of view of a 19yearold girl, sanna moder, who goes to live in frankfurt with her. After midnight is the second keun novel to be reissued in english this year. Now published for the first time in the united states, after midnight is a sharp, vivid and uncompromising read on an impossible subjectaslim but important novel. While wandering in exile, keun conducted an eighteenmonth affair with the writer joseph roth and finished after midnight, published in 1937. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. Keuns careful prose reveals the darkness beneath the mundane, the captivity within the trappings of culture. After midnight by irmgard keun 1937, translated by anthea. Algin is considering writing a historical novel that will satisfy the stiff submission requirements of the reich chamber of literature. Her father was an agent for a company that imported petrol, her mother a housewife. Keuns literary reputation is currently being reassessed. However, the novel is clear about the ambiguities exile entails the class privileges which allow some to flee while others must stay, the guilt of escape and the isolation.
But sanna is telling her love story in frankfurt, germany, in the. After midnight ostensibly takes place over the course of a single evening leading up to a catastrophic and climactic party, but easily integrated flashbacks and digressions flesh out the characters pasts. She died in 1982, shortly after her work was rediscovered by feminist critics and general readers in germany. After midnight is a masterpiece that deserves to be read and remembered anew.
In keuns world, love and politics have the same vicious power to confound and devastate their victims. Jews, arians with jewish lovers and outlawed artists who have offended against the third reich, is rendered in the. Irmgard keuns after midnight is a notable part of that canon. Written after she had fled the nazi regime, irmgard keuns masterly novel captures the feverish hysteria and horror of the era with devastating. After midnight irmgard keun by maricruz pascascio issuu. After midnight by irmgard keun nook book ebook barnes. After midnight, written by irmgard keun in 1937 during her exile in holland, is just one such book.