“ Sally Bowles” appears in several of the stories within the novel but is introduced for the first time here. Fast-forward a few years and the inhabitants of this house are all living very different, conflicting lives, but reading about their comradeship in this opening section you would never believe that these individuals would over time distance themselves from one another because of the choices they go on to make. Schroeder is head of this particular household, which alongside Christopher, included a Bartender, a “Lady of the Night”, a Jew and a Nazi supporter. Choosing the right room was therefore key – imagine living in a house full of people you couldn’t relate to? Frl. Unlike today where a house would be home to one family it was apparent that during this time maximising occupancy for rent was vital to survival. Drawn from England to Berlin we read about the dwelling Christopher Isherwood has opted for and the characters he shares the space with. “A Berlin diary (Autumn 1930)” helps to set the scene. Split into six short stories, all with inter-linking characters, we trapeze through 1930’s Berlin, getting a brief glimpse of what Germany must have been like before the imposing regime of Hitler embarked on his epic take-over. Want to know what Germany was like pre WWII? Christopher Isherwood highlights the highs and lows of life in Berlin in his short biographical observations expertly put together within this novel.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |