Settlement
by Christoph Hein
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Description
In "one of the most important German novels of recent years,"* a man, a town, and a country wrestle with fifty years of displacement and political upheaval Provincial Guldenberg is still reeling from World War II when a flood of German refugees arrives from the east, Bernhard Haber's family among them. Life is hard enough--Bernhard's father has lost an arm and his carpenter's income. But added to this injury comes an accumulation of insults, as the upright town turns hostile toward the show more newcomers. After a string of mysterious losses--from the killing of the boy's dog to the unexplained death of his father--Bernhard is set on extracting revenge. Rich with psychological insight, Christoph Hein's acclaimed novel tells Bernhard's story across nearly fifty years, chronicling his remarkable rise from victimized outsider to Guldenberg's most prominent burgher. What began as a geographic dislocation evolves into a personal quest: the thirst for vengeance yields to the deeper need for a home and settling down proves more important than settling grudges. As the socialist state gives way to reunification and the capitalism ofthe 1990s, Hein's masterful, multivoiced narration charts the transformation not just of one man but of an entire nation struggling to leave history behind and claim a home. --*The Times Literary Supplement (London) show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
What I enjoyed most about the book is that you get to read about the main character Bernhard from other people's perspectives. You don't learn and understand who Bernhard is from his own narration but from what other people think about him. There is mystery to the character of Bernhard and the reader is able to come up with their own conclusions for this character.
What I did not like about the story was the inclusion of the character of Katharina. I would have perferred if another character would have been added instead of hers (for example, the character of Herr Engelmann, the principal). I don't think that the character of Katharina added much to the story, but took away from it. I can slightly understand why her character was present show more in the book, but I think that another character should have been added instead, and thus another side of Bernard would have been seen.
The story will stir emotions in the reader from beginning to end. show less
What I did not like about the story was the inclusion of the character of Katharina. I would have perferred if another character would have been added instead of hers (for example, the character of Herr Engelmann, the principal). I don't think that the character of Katharina added much to the story, but took away from it. I can slightly understand why her character was present show more in the book, but I think that another character should have been added instead, and thus another side of Bernard would have been seen.
The story will stir emotions in the reader from beginning to end. show less
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International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
179 works; 6 members
Die besten Werke der deutschsprachigen Erzählliteratur von 1924 bis 2024
100 works; 2 members
Author Information
66+ Works 1,187 Members
Christoph Hein (born 8 April 1944): As a poet, playwright, essayist, and novelist, Christoph Hein is considered one of the most important and respected literary voices in Germany today. Widely acclaimed in Germany and abroad, Hein's works have been translated into 17 languages. The Tango Player, Hein's second novel to appear in English, was show more acclaimed as an ingenious and provocative novel by the Times Literary Supplement. The Tango Player gives the reader an insight into life in East Germany. Other novels by Hein include The Distant Lover and Death of Horn. Hein was awarded the prestigious Heinrich Mann Prize and the West German Kritikerpreis in 1983 and was the first recipient of the Erich Fried Prize in 1990. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Awards and Honors
Awards
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Settlement
- Original title
- Landnahme
- Original publication date
- 2004
- People/Characters*
- Bernhard Haber; Thomas Nicolas; Marion Demutz
- Important places*
- sächsische Kleinstadt
- Important events*
- Leben in der DDR; Fall der Berliner Wende; Nachwendezeit
- First words*
- Auf dem Podest am Ende der Freitreppe standen vier Männer und lächelten unbeirrt der Menschenmenge zu, die sich auf dem Marktplatz versammelt hatte. Einer von ihnen sah mehrmals auf die Uhr, dann gab er den Musikern ein Zei... (show all)chen, und die Kapelle spielte den Yorkschen Marsch. Wenn die vier Männer miteinander sprachen, lächelten sie nicht, ihre Gesichter wirkten besorgt, sie waren nervös.
- Quotations*
- In den Hochhäusern wohnte keiner mehr, man konnte hineingehen, mit dem Fahrstuhl nach oben fahren, sich die Wohnungen ansehen und einen Blick über die Stadt werfen. Dann gingen wir in ein Kino und sahen irgendeinen Film an,... (show all) der sehr lustig war, ich habe vergessen, wie er hieß und worum es da ging. Ins Kino gingen wir nur, weil Vater das bezahlen konnte. Er musste seinen Ausweis vorzeigen und wir konnten mit unserem Geld bezahlen, mit Ostgeld, das in den anderen Geschäften in Westberlin nicht angenommen wurde oder zu einem Wechselkurs, der für uns alles unerschwinglich teuer machte.
- Last words*
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Nachdem die letzten Kinder die Straße überquert hatten, winkte der Polizist und bedeutete ihm weiterzufahren. Er fuhr am Kurpark vorbei und an der Siedlung. Als er den Stadtausgang erreichte, beschleunigte er das Fahrzeug so heftig, als wolle er eine verlorene Zeit wiedergewinnen.
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, General Fiction, Historical Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 833.914 — Literature & rhetoric German & related literatures German fiction 1900- 1900-1990 1945-1990
- LCC
- PT2668 .E3747 — Language and Literature German, Dutch and Scandinavian literatures German literature Individual authors or works 1961-2000
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 100
- Popularity
- 319,609
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.96)
- Languages
- 6 — Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 10
- ASINs
- 1
