The stirring, never-before-translated story of a single, pregnant, and wickedly nervy young secretary making her way through a Germany succumbing to the Nazis. Irmgard Keun's first novel "Gilgi "was an overnight sensation upon its initial publication in Germany, selling thousands of copies, inspiring numerous imitators, and making Keun a household name--a reputation that was only heightened when, a few years later, Keun sued the Gestapo for blocking her royalties. The story of a young woman trying to establish her independence in a society being overtaken by fascism, "Gilgi" was not only a brave story, but revolutionary in its depiction of women's issues, at the same time that it was, simply, an absorbing and stirring tale of a dauntless spirit. Gilgi is a secretary in a hosiery firm, but she doesn't intend to stay there for long: she's disciplined and ambitious, taking language classes, saving up money to go abroad, and …
The stirring, never-before-translated story of a single, pregnant, and wickedly nervy young secretary making her way through a Germany succumbing to the Nazis. Irmgard Keun's first novel "Gilgi "was an overnight sensation upon its initial publication in Germany, selling thousands of copies, inspiring numerous imitators, and making Keun a household name--a reputation that was only heightened when, a few years later, Keun sued the Gestapo for blocking her royalties. The story of a young woman trying to establish her independence in a society being overtaken by fascism, "Gilgi" was not only a brave story, but revolutionary in its depiction of women's issues, at the same time that it was, simply, an absorbing and stirring tale of a dauntless spirit. Gilgi is a secretary in a hosiery firm, but she doesn't intend to stay there for long: she's disciplined and ambitious, taking language classes, saving up money to go abroad, and carefully avoiding both the pawing of her boss and any other prolonged romantic entanglements. But then she falls in love with Martin, a charming drifter, and leaves her job for domestic bliss--which turns out not to be all that blissful-- and Gilgi finds herself pregnant and facing a number of moral dilemmas. Revolutionary at the time for its treatment of sexual harassment, abortion, single motherhood, and the "New Woman," "Gilgi" remains a perceptive and beautifully constructed novel about one woman's path to maturity. It is presented here in its first-ever translation into English.
Erschienen vor mehr als 90 Jahren, aber unglaublich aktuell. In großem Tempo und mit Witz erzählt die Protagonistin von ihrem Leben. Dabei muss sie sich zum Teil mit den gleichen Problemen rumschlagen wie junge Frauen heute: aufdringliche Männer, sexuelle Belästigung am Arbeitsplatz, Geld verdienen, um unabhängig zu sein. Dabei zeigt sich, wie eng die Grenzen damals waren, was die berufliche Entwicklung angeht. Großartig auch, wie das Thema Schwangerschaftsabbruch quasi in einem Absatz überzeugend abgehandelt wird.
Dazu kommt noch eine sehr realistische Darstellung einer Liebesbeziehung, wie man sie selten findet.
Absolute Leseempfehlung!
Gott, das Buch! Da hatte man nur mal schnell hineinschauen wollen und nun hatte man es doch ganz gelesen. Und hatte nicht einmal Vergnügen empfunden dabei, sondern stattdessen einen schalen Überdruss. So viele Gefühle waren darin vorgekommen, na, vielleicht mochten das andere Menschen, wenn in einem Buch so viele Gefühle vorkamen, die einem dann auch noch alle sehr gründlich erklärt wurden. Nicht dass man sie dadurch besser verstanden hätte, es schwirrte einem der Kopf davon. Aber zum Glück war es nur ein dünnes Buch gewesen und man musste jetzt nicht länger darüber nachgrübeln.
