Product Description

To tie-in with the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, "City-lit Berlin" brings together an extraordinary range of writers, together with a special introduction from Berlin resident and well-known travel writer Rory MacLean. David Bowie takes us on a cycle tour of Berlin. Christopher Isherwood takes us to the cabaret. Ian McEwan shows is inside a Mitte bar. Tobias Rapp can't get enough clubbing. Chloe Aridjis takes the train around Berlin. David Hare wonders what makes the city tick. Christabel Bielenberg tells us why she can't live anywhere else. Anna Funder remembers Stasiland. Emmi Sevgi Ozdamar takes refuge in Berlin. Simon Cole runs around the Wall. Martha Gellhorn knows why it has to be Berlin. Joseph Roth enjoys some Jewish entertainment. Marlene Dietrich receives a graveside hommage. John Simpson sees the Wall come down ...and much, much more. This title is the latest in the "City-lit" series - 'An impressive little series' - "Sunday Telegraph". 'An excellent series' - "Conde Nast Traveller".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20556 in Books
• Published on: 2009-11-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 200 pages

Review
"'Brilliant... the best way to get under the skin of a city' - Kate Mosse, bestselling author of Sepulchre"

Customer Reviews

Not just for dipping
Another in this sterling series of city-writings compilations, this one follows the pattern of short excerpts gathered into chapters, that this time vary from the arbitrarily-themed to the perfect. The simplest one is also the most gripping: it's called 'The past is another country', but don't let that put you off. Its well-chosen pieces take you through Berlin's history from the early 19th Century to today, and make for an almost perfect, and very moving, slice through history. (It's interesting to note that even in the 1920s Berlin was a place renowned for building over its history.) The book choices are as eclectic as you could wish for, taking in most of the authors listed above - including the obvious choices like Isherwood, Kerr, Le Carre and Deighton - and some stuff new to me. Top of the list of latter include Ian Walker's 'Zoo Station' and Beatrice Collin's 'The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite'. Further interest is added by co-editor Katy Derbyshire's translations of bits from works not otherwise available in English. This manages to be not just a fine and fascinating introduction to the literature, but to rise above its expected status as a dipping thing to become a mighty fine cover-to-cover read in itself.