Berlin Alexanderplatz
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Berlin Alexanderplatz | |
 Reproduction of the 1st edition cover |
|
| Author | Alfred Döblin |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | George Salter |
| Country | Germany |
| Language | German |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | S. Fischer Verlag, Berlin |
| Publication date | 1929 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
Berlin Alexanderplatz is a novel by Alfred Döblin, published in 1929. The story concerns a small-time criminal, Franz Biberkopf, fresh from prison, who is drawn into the underworld. When his criminal mentor murders the prostitute whom Biberkopf has been relying on as an anchor, he realizes that he will be unable to extricate himself from the underworld into which he has sunk. In a 2002 poll of 100 noted writers conducted by the Norwegian Book Clubs, the book was named among the top 100 books of all time.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Style
The novel is set in the working class Alexanderplatz district of 1920s Berlin. Its narrative style is reminiscent of James Joyce. In fact, Döblin had already finished the work when he read Ulysses which inspired him to radically rewrite his own book. It is told from multiple points of view, and uses sound effects, newspaper articles, songs, speeches, and other books to propel the plot forward.
[edit] Film adaptions
The novel was adapted twice into a film, the first called Berlin — Alexanderplatz, in 1931. Döblin worked on the adaptation, along with Karl Heinz Martin and Hans Wilhelm. It was directed by Piel Jutzi, and starred Heinrich George, Maria Bard, Margarete Schlegel, Bernhard Minetti, Gerhard Bienert, Albert Florath and Paul Westermeier. It runs 85 minutes.
The second adaptation, titled Berlin Alexanderplatz is by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Released in 1980, it ran 15 1/2 hours in length and is considered, by many, to be his magnum opus. Both films were released in a multi-disc DVD set by the Criterion Collection in the U.S. in November 2007.
[edit] References
- ^ The top 100 books of all time, Guardian Unlimited, May 8, 2002
[edit] See also
- Museum of Modern Literature, where the original manuscript is held.
