Anna Seghers Books

Seven prisoners escape from Westhofen concentration camp, leading to the erection of seven crosses as a warning. The commandant is determined to recapture them within a week. Six are quickly caught, but George Heisler evades capture, becoming the focus of a relentless manhunt. Trust becomes a luxury as George navigates a world where his brother is now an SS officer and his lover turns against him. Hunted and desperate, he knows that anyone who helps him could face dire consequences. This gripping narrative not only serves as a thrilling tale but also as a poignant reflection on the grim realities of Nazi Germany. It offers a profound insight into the psyche of ordinary people grappling with fear and conflicting loyalties during a dark chapter in history. The novel, published in 1942, was a bestseller and inspired a 1944 MGM film starring Spencer Tracy. Seghers aimed to reveal the complexities of fascist Germany through the story of one man. After facing multiple setbacks, including the loss of manuscripts to war, the surviving text was sent to her publisher in America just before she escaped Nazi-occupied France. This new, unabridged translation by Margot Bettauer Dembo makes the complete text available in English for the first time.

This collection features a fresh translation of the author's most compelling and thought-provoking short stories, showcasing their distinctive narrative style. Renowned for works like Transit and The Seventh Cross, the author delves into complex themes and human experiences, inviting readers to explore the depths of emotion and insight within each tale. The stories promise to challenge perspectives and provoke reflection, making this an essential read for fans of literary fiction.

Described as Casablanca as written by Kafka, Transit is an existential literary thriller that explores the plight of the exile with compassion and insight. Written in 1942, when thousands of refugees were fleeing through Marseille, it couldn't be more resonant today.

Anna Seghers' Briefe in Erstausgabe Ein Dokument besonderer Art: In diesen sehr persönlichen Briefen sind all die Probleme einer Emigrantin nach der Rückkehr in ihr zerstörtes Land präsent. Anna Seghers fiel es schwer, wieder in Deutschland heimisch zu werden. Getrennt von der Familie, ohne die Freunde, die umgekommen sind oder nun in anderen Ländern leben, leidet sie unter Fremdheit und Kälte, klagt über die Verwahrlosung der Menschen, wünscht sich, wieder einmal lustig zu sein und zu träumen.