Synopses & Reviews
Günter Grass, novelist, poet, and graphic artist, is also a committed political activist. In this collection of essays, spanning the years 1967 to 1983, he takes on writing and politics with accustomed verve and insight. Ranging over subjects that include utopian fiction, his own novel The Tin Drum, the legacy of Auschwitz, or the writing of his master, Alfred Döblin (author of Berlin Alexanderplatz), Grass's unmistakeable voice resonates with tolerance, good humor, and good sense. He is a leading voice of commitment in a Germany whose past writers too often avoided political engagement a voice of reason in a land where, he says, "nightmares have so often and so completely become political reality."
Review
"These essays are engaging and increase our understanding of European history." Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, The New York Times
Review
"Grass's arguments are offered from fresh perspectives and in a language which is...splendidly translated." The Washington Post
Synopsis
A collection of essays on literature and politics the essence of Grass's thoughts and commitment.
Synopsis
Grass-novelist, poet, and graphic artist-is also a committed political activist. In this collection of essays, he takes on writing and politics with his accustomed verve and insight. Introduction by Salman Rushdie. Translated by Ralph Manheim. A Helen and Kurt Wolff Book
About the Author
GÜNTER GRASS was born in Danzig, Germany, in 1927. He is the widely acclaimed author of numerous books, including The Tin Drum, My Century, Crabwalk, and Peeling the Onion. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1999.