German Texts
1 total work
In Germany in the mid-1930s, the 19 year-old Sanna observes the folly, stupidity, hypocrisy and cruelty of Nazi Germany: brawling SA men, proud mothers of simpering daughters who rush forward to offer flowers to the Fuehrer, neighbours who transform petty bickering into political denunciation, bullies turned party activists. At first, wide-eyed but less naive than she pretends, she watches with mockery and disgust but her growing horror finally forces her to flee into exile with her lover. The publication of "Nach Mitternacht" in 1937 in Amsterdam was a milestone in exile literature. Like Keun's previous bestsellers, "Gilgi" and "Das kunstseidene Maedchen", "Nach Mitternacht" has a conversational style and is easily accessible to the student of German literature. Yet it also provides valuable insights into the responses to Nazi Germany - ranging from enthusiastic support, through apathy, to flight - and into the experience of women in particular. The author's introduction addresses the major issues in Keun's life and work and will be useful to those studying the text. The book includes an "Arbeitsteil" section in German to encourage further study of the text.