The author of himself

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Marcel Reich-Ranicki's autobiography is a captivating blend of adventure, personal reflection, and a deep exploration of German-Jewish relations, all framed within a profound love for literature. Born in Poland in 1920 to a Jewish family, he moved to Berlin as a child, where he developed a passion for literature and a complex relationship with German culture. In 1938, his family was deported back to Poland, leading him to endure the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto. As a member of the Jewish resistance and a translator for the Jewish Council, Reich-Ranicki witnessed Nazi barbarism firsthand, providing a compelling account of this dark chapter in history. He and his wife survived by hiding for two years in the cellar of Polish peasants, an experience later immortalized by Günter Grass. After the war, he briefly joined the Communist Party, faced imprisonment, and emerged as Poland's leading critic of German literature. Upon returning to Germany in 1958, he quickly rose to prominence, becoming a national celebrity as the head of a major newspaper's literary section and a television host known for his bold critiques. His extensive network of friends and foes among influential writers makes his memoir an essential guide to contemporary German culture and a vivid eyewitness account of significant twentieth-century events.