New Lives

Zusatztext “Ingo Schulze is an epic storyteller!” —Günter Grass “Rumors! protests! paranoia! disbelief! the thrill of first seeing West German road signs—they’re all on the page with you-are-there clarity.” — Seattle Times “Powerful. . . . Schulze is determined to capture the energy—and mayhem—of his country’s historic transformation. . . . With engaging irony! [he asks] both what is gained and what is lost in such cultural transformations.” — The Review of Contemporary Fiction “An admirable work. . . . The reader sits open-mouthed! surprised! and delighted before this miracle of romantic poetry! philosophy of money! and epic strength.” — Süddeutsche Zeitung (Munich) “Witty and elaborate.” — The New Yorker “A unique view of the German reunification.” — Sacramento Book Review “[Schulze’s] latest book may well be Germany’s best reunification novel to date. . . . Against an uncertain East German landscape of ambiguous opportunities—depicted with considerable sensitivity but little Ostalgie—Schulze expertly pulls his readers in opposite directions. . . . Exhilarating and perceptive.” — Booklist (starred review) “Beguiling. . . . Schulze captures something ephemeral but critical about how the idealism that brought down the Wall also brought down itself.” — Publishers Weekly “Hugely ambitious. . . . Anyone who has spent time in a political movement! or in a start-up business! will recognize the comedy of egos with its cast of con men! hangers-on and the occasional genuine talent.” — Kirkus (starred review) Informationen zum Autor Ingo Schulze , born in Dresden in 1962, studied classical philology at the University of Jena. His first book, 33 Moments of Happiness , won two German literary awards, the prestigious Alfred Döblin Prize and the Ernst Willner Prize for Literature. He lives in Berlin. Klappentext In his long-awaited new novel! renowned German author Ingo Schulze provides a rich and nuanced panorama of a world in transition. East Germany! January 1990. Enrico Türmer-man of the theater! aspiring novelist-has turned his back on the art world and joined a startup newspaper. Before long! the former aesthete and rebel becomes obsessed with personal gain! and in a series of letters to his sister! a friend! and a would-be lover! Enrico vividly muses on his capitalist ventures and latent worldly ambitions. As Schulze peels away the layers of Enrico's previous existence! his antihero's reinvention comes to embody all the questionable aspects not only of life in the old Germany! but of life in the Germany just taking form. [Saturday, Jan. 6. ’90] [To Vera] . . . like that?” Instead of trotting along behind us as usual so that he could demand a reward for every step he took, Robert bounded ahead like a puppy. We had to cross a hollow, the snow had a bluish sparkle and came up to our calves. Suddenly Robert gave a yell and started up the opposite slope. The moldy soil beneath the snow had not frozen. Michaela and I were running now too. When we stopped there was only the white field up ahead and grayish pink sky above us. We kept climbing, crossed a dirt road, and made straight for the woods. The wind swept the snow from the winter planting. I had to work hard not to be left behind. But the two of them didn’t turn back at the edge of the woods as we had agreed, but entered it. And so I also followed the sign pointing to Silver Lake. The pond was frozen over. Before I could say anything Robert was skidding across the ice, with Michaela right behind. Robert, who is very proud that his voice is breaking, crowed something that I didn’t understand. Michaela shouted that I was chicken. But I didn’t want to risk it and stayed onshore. The snow hid most of the trash lying around, but there was a toy horse jutting up out of it. ...

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Ingo Schulze is an epic storyteller! Günter Grass

Rumors, protests, paranoia, disbelief, the thrill of first seeing West German road signs they re all on the page with you-are-there clarity.
Seattle Times

Powerful. . . . Schulze is determined to capture the energy and mayhem of his country s historic transformation. . . . With engaging irony, [he asks] both what is gained and what is lost in such cultural transformations.
The Review of Contemporary Fiction

An admirable work. . . . The reader sits open-mouthed, surprised, and delighted before this miracle of romantic poetry, philosophy of money, and epic strength.
Süddeutsche Zeitung (Munich)

Witty and elaborate.
The New Yorker

A unique view of the German reunification.
Sacramento Book Review

[Schulze s] latest book may well be Germany s best reunification novel to date. . . . Against an uncertain East German landscape of ambiguous opportunities depicted with considerable sensitivity but little Ostalgie Schulze expertly pulls his readers in opposite directions. . . . Exhilarating and perceptive.
Booklist (starred review)

Beguiling. . . . Schulze captures something ephemeral but critical about how the idealism that brought down the Wall also brought down itself.
Publishers Weekly

Hugely ambitious. . . . Anyone who has spent time in a political movement, or in a start-up business, will recognize the comedy of egos with its cast of con men, hangers-on and the occasional genuine talent.
Kirkus (starred review)

Product details

• Authors: Ingo Schulze
• Assisted by: John E. Woods (Translation)
• Publisher: Vintage USA
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 06.10.2009
• EAN: 9780307277985
• ISBN: 978-0-307-27798-5
• No. of pages: 592
• Dimensions: 131 mm x 203 mm x 27 mm
• Series: Vintage International; Vintage International; Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
• Subject: Fiction > Narrative literature