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I am My Own Wife: The True Story of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf
A soft-spoken transvestite wanting nothing more than to live as a hausfrau, Charlotte von Mahlsdorf instead was caught up in the most harrowing dramas of 20th-century Europe, surviving both the Nazis and the Communists. Originally published as I Am My Own Woman, this exquisitely written autobiography reveals her lifelong pursuit of sexual liberty. The story is reaching an ...more
Paperback, 180 pages
Published
May 26th 2004
by Cleis Press
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This is one of the most charming and optimistic autobiographies I have ever read. I don't want to ruin one moment of surprise in Charlotte von Mahlsdorf's story by elaborating here. But I will say, for a third gender individual who lived in WW2 Germany and communist East Berlin, I could not have been more in awe of an individual. Mahlsdorf's courage, tranquility, determination, self-awareness, and hope are inspiring. I can't wait to go to Berlin and visit her Grunderzeit museum.
Wer bei diesem Buch denkt, bei der Geschichte von Charlotte von Mahlsdorf (eigentlich Lothar Beerfelde) handle es sich einfach um eine Aneinanderreihung von schlüpfrigen Geschichten, irrt ganz gewaltig. Vielmehr ist es eine kleine Autobiografie über eine ganz besondere Frau, mit ganz außergewöhnlichen Wendungen und Ideen.
An interesting way of learning about homophobia in the 3rd Reich and more so in the GDR and also a crash course in Gründerzeit furniture. My only problem was telling when Lottchen was being serious and when s/he was being ironic.
Ein wirklich spannendes Buch. Manchmal bekam ich das Gefuehl,das es sich in die Laenge zieht, doch da wir es hier mit einer Biographie zu tun haben, meine ich, dass es doch als eine Biographie alles sagt,was man ueber die damalige Hitlerzeit und die Homosexuaelle Society wissen sollte. An dem Beispiel des Transvestits sehen wir eine komische Geschichte, die meiner Meinung nach doch ein wenig kolorisiert wurde. Aber lest doch mal selbst und bildet Euch eine Meinung.
an interesting story about preserving
history and culture in wake of world war II and the
wide-spread destruction of german architecture and furniture later exacerbated by soviet occupation of east berlin. and
to think that one man single-handedly saved an entire
period of history all while wearing a frock is
simultaneously humbling and inspiring.
history and culture in wake of world war II and the
wide-spread destruction of german architecture and furniture later exacerbated by soviet occupation of east berlin. and
to think that one man single-handedly saved an entire
period of history all while wearing a frock is
simultaneously humbling and inspiring.
Read after seeing the play (of the same name) which was based on this book. A more in-depth look at the unbelievable story of how a German transvestite was able to live under two oppressive regimes - first under Nazi rule and then under Communism.
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