Interested in German books? Come along to discuss this novel with us.
Join us for the first session in the New Year of our book club to discuss (in German) the novel “The hero from Friedrichstraße station“ (
Der Held vom Bahnhof Friedrichstraße) by Maxim Leo. New members welcome!
ABOUT THE BOOK
In September 2019, a journalist visits Michael Hartung. He is researching a spectacular mass escape from East Germany in the 80s, in which 127 people made their way to the West via train. The journalist has come across secret service files showing that Hartung allegedly engineered the escape. Hartung knows that this is a misunderstanding and initially denies the story but, after receiving a decent fee and having a few beers, agrees to confirm it. After all, he’s never been important, never been a hero, and if that’s what the files say …
Soon the media are all over Hartung, they need a hero and such a modest one is just the right fit to win the hearts of the public. The president meets with him, and a book and movie based on his story are in the works. Hartung’s life suddenly feels easy, like a dream. But then he meets Paula, who, as a little girl, was on that train that was diverted to the West. The two fall in love, and Hartung senses that it’s time for him to find a way out of the web of lies – although it might already be too late for that.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maxim Leo, born in East Berlin in 1970, trained as a chemical laboratory technician, studied political science and became a journalist. Today, together with Jochen Gutsch, he writes bestsellers about talking men and old-age puberty, as well as screenplays for the “Tatort” series. In 2006, he was awarded the Theodor Wolff Prize. In 2011, he was awarded the European Book Prize for his autobiographical book “Haltet euer Herz bereit”. His crime novel “Waidmannstod” was published in 2014 and “Auentod” in 2015. His autobiographical book “Wo wir zu Hause sind” was published in 2019 and became a bestseller. Maxim Leo lives in Berlin with his wife and two children.
Text source: KiWi-Verlag
WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?
Everyone who would like to read and discover German books and share their reading experience with others is welcome. The conversation will be in German. All participants should have sufficient language skills to read and discuss in German.
Participation is free of charge.
REGISTRATION
If you are not a regular member of the book club please register your interest by sending an email to
library-glasgow@goethe.de. We will add you to our book club mailing list.
This event is part of the series Book Club Glasgow.
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