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The New Sufferings of Young W.: Ulrich Plenzdorf, Gunter Kunert, Anna Seghers, and Others (German Library
Slightly off-mint.
- GenresGerman Literature
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
About the author
Ulrich Plenzdorf
27 books16 followersUlrich Plenzdorf was a German author and dramatist.
Born in Berlin, Plenzdorf studied Philosophy in Leipzig, but graduated with a degree in film. He found work at DEFA.
He became famous in both East and West Germany for his socially critical work titled "Die neuen Leiden des jungen W." Written in the jargon of the GDR-youth of the 1970s, it details the tragic story of a young man and his attempt to break free from his stifling bourgeois environment, drawing parallels between his own life and that of the protagonist in Goethe's work The Sorrows of Young Werther (Die Leiden des jungen Werther) (1774).
Since 2004, Plenzdorf had been a guest lecturer at the Deutsches Literaturinstitut in Leipzig.
He died of undisclosed causes, aged 72.
Born in Berlin, Plenzdorf studied Philosophy in Leipzig, but graduated with a degree in film. He found work at DEFA.
He became famous in both East and West Germany for his socially critical work titled "Die neuen Leiden des jungen W." Written in the jargon of the GDR-youth of the 1970s, it details the tragic story of a young man and his attempt to break free from his stifling bourgeois environment, drawing parallels between his own life and that of the protagonist in Goethe's work The Sorrows of Young Werther (Die Leiden des jungen Werther) (1774).
Since 2004, Plenzdorf had been a guest lecturer at the Deutsches Literaturinstitut in Leipzig.
He died of undisclosed causes, aged 72.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 30, 2024
This was one of the most popular novels in East Germany. It was published in 1972/1973. at a time of greater tensions between East and West Germany, but he was very well received in both countries.
The main character of the novel is 17-year-old Edgar Wibo, an excellent and exemplary high school student who suddenly decides to leave school, family and his city and settle in Berlin. At the very beginning of the novel, readers learn that Edgar was electrocuted on New Year's Eve.
Edgar's father, who did not participate in his upbringing, decides to talk to people who were close to his son and find out what happened, as well as find out who his son was. During these conversations, we also follow Edgar's narration (from the other world) who interrupts and clarifies the conversations his father is having.
The theme of the unacceptability of fitting into social frameworks was new and interesting in East German literature, and the novel is interesting for all generations. Edgar often quotes Goethe, namely his hero Werther, but he also identifies with Defoe's Robinson and Salinger's Holden.
In bigger part of the novel, the writer writes in colloquial language, and in some parts he returns to standard literary language (for example, when he quotes from Werther). The narrative is full of humor which causes readers to bond with Edgar and root for him despite the foregone conclusion. The novel is short, about 120 pages, it is not divided into parts and chapters, but it is quick and easy to read. I read it in one sitting.
Recommendation from me.
The main character of the novel is 17-year-old Edgar Wibo, an excellent and exemplary high school student who suddenly decides to leave school, family and his city and settle in Berlin. At the very beginning of the novel, readers learn that Edgar was electrocuted on New Year's Eve.
Edgar's father, who did not participate in his upbringing, decides to talk to people who were close to his son and find out what happened, as well as find out who his son was. During these conversations, we also follow Edgar's narration (from the other world) who interrupts and clarifies the conversations his father is having.
The theme of the unacceptability of fitting into social frameworks was new and interesting in East German literature, and the novel is interesting for all generations. Edgar often quotes Goethe, namely his hero Werther, but he also identifies with Defoe's Robinson and Salinger's Holden.
In bigger part of the novel, the writer writes in colloquial language, and in some parts he returns to standard literary language (for example, when he quotes from Werther). The narrative is full of humor which causes readers to bond with Edgar and root for him despite the foregone conclusion. The novel is short, about 120 pages, it is not divided into parts and chapters, but it is quick and easy to read. I read it in one sitting.
Recommendation from me.
April 30, 2023
It's so much better than the original one
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews