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Alone in Berlin

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Alone in Berlin

By: Hans Fallada, Michael Hofmann - translator
Narrated by: John Telfer
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Summary

Berlin, 1940. The city is paralysed by fear. But one man refuses to be scared. Otto, an ordinary German living in a shabby apartment block, tries to stay out of trouble under Nazi rule. But when he discovers 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.

Every Man Dies Alone was published in the UK as Alone in Berlin.

English edition copyright 2009 Melville House Publishing; Translation copyright 2009 Michael Hofmann.

©1994 Aufbau-Verlagsgruppe GmbH, Berlin (P)2010 Hachette Digital Classics Heartfelt Scary Thought-Provoking Inspiring
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First published in 1947 as Jeder stirbt für sich allein (Every Man Dies Alone) and translated beautifully by the poet Michael Hoffman in 2009, this book is a disturbing, visceral, accurate and beautifully realised portrait of a society consuming itself from within seen from the perspective of ordinary people caught up in the nightmare of the Nazi machine. What makes it all the more poignant is that the story is based on a real case from wartime Berlin.

The author, Hans Fallada (or Rudolf Ditzen to give him his real name) is said to have written the book in just 24 days in post war East Berlin, having been handed a Gestapo file detailing the central case by a friend who became a government minister. Sadly the author died from a morphine overdose shortly before the book was published.

The narration is the best I have ever encountered and perfectly captures each character from the lowest, snivelling crook, to the screaming viciousness of the Nazi functionaries. John Telfer is to be applauded for his performance.

The subject matter is dark and deeply thought-provoking but please, please do not let that put you off. Running through this work is the redemptive and triumphant power of the human spirit against almost unimaginable horror.

This is a work of genius, translated perfectly and read sublimely.

A mesmerising, life-changing book. Buy it.

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One of the most memorable, superb, thought provoking and haunting books I have read in the past 3 years. I have recommended it to several people, all avid readers also, who were equally impressed. A very powerful book, which has immediately made it to my top 20 books I have ever read/listened to.

Phenomenal

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great narrative, story takes loads surprising twists, at times unconvincing but overall good and a great choice of a book to listen to

captivating, chilling, worth listening

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This book is gripping and draws you in, but is also one of the most profoundly humane books I have ever come across.

Engrossing

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What a wonderful audiobook. There are moments when the characters are confronted with situations which bring them to complete despair, and you really feel that through the way John Telfer voices the characters. He also avoids charicature when voicing the Gestapo. I can't recommend this highly enough.

Bleak and compelling

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