The Whistlers' Room
by Paul Alverdes
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Description
An "extremely atmospheric and poignant" novel of wounds that never heal and lives forever scarred by World War I (Books Monthly). They're called Whistlers-residents of a German hospital who have all been wounded in the throat, and whose every breath is punctuated with a high-pitched whistle. One young soldier, Pointner, has no hope for recovery. His only solace comes from the British sniper's cap he keeps as a trophy. Fellow casualty Kollin clings to the belief that he will be whole again. show more When an unlikely comrade joins them in the ward-the Englishman Harry, similarly injured but separated by allegiance-they find themselves bound, beyond the countries and crowns that have forgotten them, not only by their wounds but also by their common humanity. show lessTags
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Series of fictional vignettes concerning four soldier tracheostomy patients in a German hospital ward called the Whistlers' Room and the subsequent treatment of their throats. Unable to communicate normally, they speak with a series of tones, i.e., whistles. Powerfully gentle and sympathetic. Three soldiers are wounded Germans and the fourth, an English POW. The sketches reveal each man's personality, reactions to their treatment, to other patients with other injuries, and to the doctor in charge. The four men form a strong bond with each other. Medical details were so vivid because the author had undergone such a serious wound himself and based much on his own experiences..
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
50 genummerde exemplaren
Feb 13, 2017Dutch
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THE WAR ROOM
813 works; 24 members
Author Information
19+ Works 64 Members
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Series
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Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The Whistlers' Room
- Original title
- Die Pfeiferstube
- Original publication date
- 1929
- Dedication
- Dedicated to Hans Carossa
- First words
- The large room with the wide terrace in front and the view over the park and fields and a glimpse of the Rhine in the distance beneath a brown cloud of smoke was known throughout the hospital as the Whistlers' Room.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Then they stepped out quickly between the beds, met in a clumsy embrace, and kissed each other.
- Original language
- German
- Canonical DDC/MDS
- 833.912
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 35
- Popularity
- 814,215
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.80)
- Languages
- Dutch, English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 3
- ASINs
- 2
