Feuchtwanger studied philology at the universities of munich and berlin, receiving the degree of doctor of philosophy from the university of munich in 1907. Get this book free when you sign up for a 30day trial. In a berlin inhabited by troops in brown shirts, however, the oppermanns have more to fear than an alien discomfort. I am pleased to say, that the oppermanns by lion feuchtwanger is my premiere crossover entry. The celebrated germanjewish writer lion feuchtwanger 18841958 was an incomparable master of the historical novel, applying his distinctive technique of projecting critical contemporary themes onto exceptional individuals and complex historical scenery from times long gone. Feuchtwanger paints the political and social history of time in great and impressive detail except that there is not a single date in the book. Ill admit that part of the appeal of feuchtwangers book is that it deals with a chapter of. Lion feuchtwanger german 7 july 1884 21 december 1958 was a germanjewish novelist and playwright. A prominent figure in the literary world of weimar germany, he influenced contemporaries including playwright bertolt brech t feuchtwang er s judaism and fierce criticism of the nazi party, years before it assumed power, ensured that he would be a target of government. We now know that as bad as what feuchtwanger thought the nazi state would be, it was far worse. With one of the largest book inventories in the world, find the book you are looking for. Audible provides the highest quality audio and narration.
A prominent figure in the literary world of weimar germany, he influenced contemporaries including playwright bertolt brecht feuchtwangers fierce criticism of the nazi partyyears before it assumed powerensured that he would be a target of governmentsponsored persecution after adolf. The oppermanns consider themselves patriotic germans. Written as hitler came to power, this book captured the confusion, fear and denial that. One sense the rumblings of the approaching cataclysm, which one and all they refuse to. When hitler then became chancellor reichskanzler in 1933, feuchtwangers opinion changed considerably. Leon feuchtwanger article about leon feuchtwanger by the. Lion feuchtwanger, ruth gruber contributor, james cleugh translator 4. Lion feuchtwanger article about lion feuchtwanger by the. Suss is portrayed as arrogant and at the same time obsequious allowing himself to be insulted over and over again by the coarse duke and his courtiers. Goya, one of the immortals of art, was also a fallible mortal.
What an obscure german novel taught me about dictators. No single historical or fictional work has more tellingly or insightfully depicted. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. I read this book several years ago for a comparative literature class in college and it remains to be one of my favorite books.
Lion feuchtwanger lion feuchtwanger 18841958, a distinguished member of the postworld war i 1 german literary scene, lived and wrote in political exile for the last quartercentury of his life. Signin to download and listen to this audiobook today. Three generations of this wellestablished berlin family face discrimination, deceit, betrayal, and a tragedy that history has proved to. Lion feuchtwangers name was number six on the alphabetic list. Lion feuchtwanger 18841958 lion feuchtwanger 18841958, a distinguished member of the postworld war i german literary scene lived and wrote in political exile for the last quartercentury of his life. Download audiobooks written by lion feuchtwanger to your device. A powerful novel of modern germany by far the most important book that has come out of that maelstrom. He was involved in the fate of spain at a turning point in his countrys history.
In book form, the oppermanns evolved from a proposal made in april 1933 by a representative of the british government that feuchtwanger write a screenplay depicting the recent events in germany. During that time, he published the novel the oppermanns. When lion feuchtwanger left germany in 1933 for a trip to the uk and the us, he didnt think that he would never return to his home country. This is the hour by lion feuchtwanger follows his fictionalised path to understanding and to a new way of painting in the years around 1800, when he lived his infatuation for the duchess of alba and rose to be first court painter of king charles iv. At berlin and munich universities he studied philosophy, literature, and ancient and modern languages and also developed a working interest in theater. It is a compelling, poignant novel written in late 1933 about a prosperous jewish familys first year living in berlin under nazi rule. Lion feuchtwanger 18841958, german novelist and dramatist of jewish origin. In book form, the oppermanns evolved from a proposal made in april 1933. New life for a prescient novel about nazism the new. It was called the oppermanns, and it was written in 1933 by a german exile named lion feuchtwanger. His works were included among those burned in the may 10, 1933, nazi book burning.
Lion and marta feuchtwanger pose in front of a bookcase. Posted in books, german literature, literature, novel, readalong by caroline. Through the book the reader can not only understand what this people feel and why they live how they do. In assimilated citizens like them, the emancipated jew in germany has become a fact. It has three parts, the past 1932, the present 1933, and the future 1934. Written by lion feuchtwanger, audiobook narrated by magnus roosmann.
Feuchtwangers novel is a moving story of a jewish families in 1930s germany who are divided in their views about how to respond to both the actual physical and economic threats from the rising national socialist movement. After 1945, people here in germany often claimed they didnt know anything about the concentration camps and. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Lion feuchtwangers majestic historical novel is set in turbulent spain of the napoleonic era. Click to read more about the oppermanns by lion feuchtwanger. The oppermanns by lion feuchtwanger, 9780786708802, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. A books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. New york times first published in 1934 but fully imagining the future of germany over the ensuing years, the oppermanns tells the compelling story of a remarkable. Lion feuchtwanger gustav oppermann, who runs a chain of furniture stores, and the other members of his jewish family face the terrifying rise of. Lion feuchtwanger was born on july 7, 1884, in munich, germany, the. Fairleigh dickinson university press, 1975 authors, german 392 pages.
What an obscure german novel taught me about dictators politico. Raised in an orthodox family in munich that also maintained ties to german secular culture, feuchtwanger was exposed both to traditional jewish learning and modern secular thought from an early age. In this real masterpiece lion feuchtwanger has incredibly successfully showed the very nature of jews and their religion. Feuchtwangers book details a series of events that place between november 1932 and the late summer of 1933. His masterwork, success, is one of the great novels of the 20th century. While abroad, he said to people that hitler is over. Lion feuchtwanger has 73 books on goodreads with 15740 ratings. A timely book, giving in vigorous, simple strokes the present problem against a background of a large family, jewish, but deeply rooted in german traditions, social, economic, intellectual, spiritual. Lion feuchtwanger was a germanjewish novelist and playwright. Meanwhile feuchtwanger was completing the first antinazi novel written by a german writer in exile, the oppermanns, portraying the malevolent pressure exerted on the germanjewish oppermann family from november 9, 1932 to the summer of 1933. First published in 1934, this novel tells the compelling story of a remarkable german jewish family confronted by hitlers rise to power. Its hero is the artist francisco goyaand his fabulous affair with gayetana, duchess of alba, is the bright central thread of its rich tapestry. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers.
The oppermanns is a beautifully written and touching novel that was included in my reading for a class in the university of chicago basic program where we studied degenerate art during the third reich. At the beginning of 1933, lion feuchtwanger was probably his. The reichstag fire trial the second brown book of hitler terror, based on material collected by the world committee for the relief of victims of german fascism, with an introductory chapter by gd. A play about the salem witchcraft trials in three acts 1948. Feuchtwangers novel is a moving story of a jewish families in 1930s germany who are divided in their views about how to respond to both the actual physical and economic threats from the. He starts to love them, to see their tragedy, destiny, future. Discover book depositorys huge selection of lion feuchtwanger books online. Lion feuchtwanger 7 july 1884 21 december 1958 was a germanjewish novelist and playwright. Founded in 1997, has become a leading book price comparison site. Lion feuchtwanger project gutenberg selfpublishing. When adolf hitler came to power in 1933, feuchtwanger was targeted for arrest and he fled to france. Leon feuchtwanger project gutenberg selfpublishing. A prominent figure in the literary world of weimar germany, he influenced contemporaries including playwright bertolt brecht feuchtwangers fierce criticism of the nazi partyyears before it assumed power and being jewish ensured that he would be a target of governmentsponsored. Lion feuchtwanger was born on july 7, 1884, in munich, germany, the son of a wealthy jewish industrialist.