Thomas Brussig's classic German satire, translated into English for the first time and introduced by Jonathan Franzen, is a comedic, moving account of life in East Berlin before the Fall of the Berlin Wall Thomas Brussig's slim novel, The Short End of the Sonnenallee, is a satire set, literally, on the Sonnenallee, the famed "boulevard of the sun" in East Berlin. Within this boulevard lives Michael, an adolescent who faces daily ridicule whenever he steps out of his apartment building and comes into view of the observation platform on the West side. "Look, a real Zonie. Can we take your picture?" Hopelessly in love with the most beautiful girl on the street, Michael is batted away in favour of the Western boys who are free to cross the border. What chance does Michael have, and how much trouble will he get into by pursuing her? Laugh-out-loud funny and unabashedly silly, Brussig's novel follows the bizarre, grotesque quotidian details of life in the German Democratic Republic. As this new translation shows, the ideas at its heart - freedom, democracy and life's fundamental hilarity - hold great relevance for today.
Thomas Brussig
Thomas Brussig is a German author known for his satirical and humorous novels that often explore themes of East German society and the fall of the Berlin Wall. His most notable works include "Helden wie wir" (Heroes Like Us) and "Am kürzeren Ende der Sonnenallee" (Sun Alley). Brussig's writing style is characterized by witty dialogue, sharp social commentary, and a unique blend of comedy and tragedy. He has made significant contributions to German literature by shedding light on the complexities of East German history and culture. "Helden wie wir" remains Brussig's most famous work, capturing the absurdity and contradictions of life in East Germany during the Cold War era.
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