A Small Circus
A Small Circus by Hans Fallada, published by Penguin in 2012, is a significant work that delves into the complexities of a small German town during the summer of 1929. This edition, a 2nd Printing, spans 577 pages and presents a vivid narrative centered around the shabby reporter Tredup, who navigates a precarious existence while capturing photographs that could change his fortunes. The story unfolds against a backdrop of rising tensions, as farmers plot against greedy officials and a mysterious salesman stirs unrest, all while the political landscape becomes increasingly volatile with the growing influence of the Nazis and the Communists.
Readers will find a raw and vivid account of a community grappling with corruption, greed, and brutality as alliances shift and violence looms. Fallada’s exploration of the failures of governments and individuals is set within a historical context that reflects the turmoil of Weimar Germany. Michael Hofmann’s translation brings this intricate tale of intrigue and foreboding to English readers, offering insights into the societal struggles of the time. The book’s themes of conflict and societal breakdown resonate throughout, making it a notable addition to the genres of fiction, classics, and historical literature.
Official synopsis Publisher
It is summer, 1929, and in a small German town a storm is brewing.
The shabby reporter Tredup leads a precarious existence working for the Pomeranian Chronicle – until he takes some photographs that offer the chance to make a fortune. In Krüger’s bar, the farmers are plotting their revenge on greedy officials. A mysterious travelling salesman from Berlin, Henning, is stirring up trouble – but no one knows why. Meanwhile the Nazis grow stronger and the Communists fight them in the streets. And at the centre of it all, the Mayor, ‘Fatty’ Gareis, seeks the easy life even as events spiral beyond his control.
As tensions erupt between workers and bosses, town and country, Left and Right, alliances are broken, bribes are taken and plots are hatched, until the tension spills over into violence.
Hans Fallada’s raw, vivid account of a town rife with corruption, greed and brutality, first published in 1931, was written as Weimar Germany collapsed around him. It is an extraordinary novel about the failure of governments and the failings of people. Michael Hofmann’s vivid, colloquial translation brings this work of intrigue and foreboding to English readers for the first time.
‘Uncommonly vivid and original’ Robert Musil
‘Real love and real humanity’ Hermann Hesse
‘The best account of small-town Germany . . . so terribly genuine, it is frightening’ Kurt Tucholsky
Author
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “A Small Circus” about?
Who is the author of “A Small Circus”?
When was “A Small Circus” published?
What is the ISBN for “A Small Circus”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
