Berlin: Remembering Christopher Isherwood

I think about Christopher Isherwood sometimes here in Berlin. He is an author I look up to, and one of my personal heroes. He wrote an extensive body of work, and though he's no longer read widely, he was very influential. And yes, he's also put his own stamp on the city of Berlin, where I am writing from. Sure, it's romantic to try to emulate a life like his, but the reality is he lived in a time when it was still pretty tough to be a gay person. You may think the decadence of pre-Holocaust Berlin might have been a piece of cake, but I doubt it.

I first read Isherwood in my twenties, and he influenced me so much. He was committed to craft, but also to his principles as a gay person. He carved out a niche all his own.

Whether you care about queer fiction or you care about literary fiction, you should know Isherwood. This archived interview sheds light on what he was like.

Isherwood didn't spend all his life in Berlin, and yet, he is often linked to this city because of his short stories and other writings. He lived in Berlin for about 4 years, and he left before Hitler came to power. Isherwood is a great reminder of the kinds of lives that can make writers flourish. My stay in Berlin is certainly not as long, but I know this time will be highly influential for me and my writing. I am not sure yet how it will impact my work, and I prefer not to dissect and analyze. Instead, I continue to enjoy Berlin and its strange techno-calm, its hidden cafes and empty streets.

I feel thankful for this opportunity to be here. The world is once again in flux, and it was important for me to see this place as all nations move into a new place.

Incidentally, I wrote 814 new words today in "The Ocean Hunters" today.