February 1933 : the winter of literature / Uwe Wittstock ; translated by Daniel Bowles.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wittstock, Uwe, 1955- author.

Contributor:

Bowles, Daniel James, 1981- translator.

Standardized Title:

Februar 1933. English

Language:

English

German

Subjects (All):

Authors, German--20th century.

Authors, German.

German literature--20th century--History and criticism.

German literature.

Physical Description:

ix, 278 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge ; Hoboken, NJ : Polity, 2023.

Language Note:

"Originally published in German as Februar 33. Der Winter der Literatur"--Title page verso.

Summary:

It all happened in a flash. February 1993 was the month in which the fate of German Writers, as for so many others, was decided. In a tensely spun narrative, Uwe Wittstock tells the story of a demise which was predicted by some but also scarcely thought possible. He reveals how, in a matter of weeks, the glittering Weimar literacy scene gave way to long, dark winter and how the net drew ever closer for Thomas Mann. Bertolt Brecht, Else Lasker-Sch|ler, Alfred D̲blin, and countless others. Monday, January 30: Adolf Hitler is sworn in as Chancellor of Germany. Joseph Roth cannot wait any longer to learn what today's paper will report. He leaves for the station in the morning and takes the train to Paris; bidding Berlin farewell comes naturally to him. Meanwhile, Thomas Mann barely spares a thought for politics during the next ten days, focusing instead of his forthcoming speech on Richard Wagner. Weaving an intimate portrait of the major figures whose lives he follows day by day. Wittstock shows how the landslide of events which immediately followed Hitler's victory spelled disaster for the country's literacy elite. He resurrects the atmosphere of the times, marked by anxiety for many, by passivity and self-betrayal for some, and by grim determination for others. Who will applaud the new dictator, and who will flee, fearing for their life? Drawing on unpublished archival material, this important work is both a meticulous historical narrative and a timely reminder that we must remain vigilant in the face of the forces that threaten democracy, however distant the prospect of totalitarianism may seem.

Contents:

Acknowledgments

Figures

Stepping off the Cliff: The month in which the die was cast

The Republic's Last Dance: Saturday, January 28

Hell Reigns: Monday, January 30

Axes at the Door: Tuesday, January 31

Inferior Foreign-Blooded Trash: Thursday, February 2

Tongue-Tied: Friday, February 3

Not Sure What to Do: Saturday, February 4

Burial in the Rain: Sunday, February 5

Meeting Routine: Monday, February 6

Hideous, Violent Little Creatures: Friday, February 10

Schutzstaffel for Writers: Sunday, February 12

Men in Black: Monday, February 13

Fever in Flight: Tuesday, February 14

Slamming the Door: Wednesday, February 15

The Little Schoolteacher: Thursday, February 16

I'm Leaving. I'm Staying: Friday, February 17

No Treasure in the Silver Lake: Saturday, February 18

What's the Point of Writing?: Sunday, February 19

Pay up!: Monday, February 20

Pretty Good Cover: Tuesday, February 21

Surviving the Coming Weeks: Wednesday, February 22

A Minister in the Audience: Friday, February 24

Civil War Tribunal and Police Protection: Saturday, February 25

Travel Advice: Monday, February 27

Dictatorship Is Here: Tuesday, February 28

Fading from the World: Wednesday, March 1

The Fake Mother: Friday, March 3

Don't Open the Door!: Saturday, March 4

Casting a Ballot: Sunday, March 5

The Emigrant's Solitude: Monday, March 6

Courage, Fear, and Fires: Tuesday, March 7

Nothing but Goodbyes: Wednesday, March 8

Unexpected Attacks: Friday, March 10

Final Days: Saturday, March 11

Departures: Monday, March 13

The Sight of This Hell: Wednesday, March 15

What Happened Afterward: 33 Life Sketches

Afterword

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781509553792

1509553797

OCLC:

1385527519