Crazy in Berlin: A novel [Hardcover]

Thomas Berger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1982

CRAZY IN BERLIN is the first novel in the saga of Carlo Reinhart. American literature has produced a number of flawed heroes, but none more memorable than Carlo.

Reinhart is a young army medic, stationed in Germany during the early days of the Allied occupation. Large, generous, kind-hearted, he caretakes a shattered civilization. Wartime stereotypes dissolve in the wash of individuals. All this blood, toil and treasure...for what? Reinhart, who deals daily with psychos, drives himself to the brink with his own questions.

"With this novel, Berger gains a solid place in contemporary fiction." (Saturday Review)

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

12 1.5-hour cassettes --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 438 pages
• Publisher: Delcorte Press/S. Lawrence (1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440011310
• ISBN-13: 978-0440011316
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #752,559 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bring back the entire Reinhart series!, May 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Crazy in Berlin (Hardcover)

I am amazed that "Crazy in Berlin", "Reinhart in Love" etc. are not in print even in a trade paperback edition. We need to show more respect for the works of our talented authors. As I remember "Crazy in Berlin", it was a comedic look at postwar Berlin and its denizens. "Reinhart in Love" and "Reinhart's Women" continue the life story of the main character in "Crazy in Berlin". Those who appreciate John Updike and John Irving owe it to themselves to read some of Thomas Berger.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of My Favorite Authors, May 19, 2005

By 

Margaret Kleinfeld - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Crazy In Berlin (Paperback)

I agree that the Reinhart series should be in print. I have read all of the Reinhart series and most of the rest of Thomas Berger's novels. Inspired by the Oprah Magazine section "Books That Made a Difference to ---", I am compiling a short list. "Crazy in Berlin" was in the top 5, with two other Thomas Berger novels and two volumes of "The Diary of Anais Nin". The Rienhart series compares very favorably to Updike's "Rabbit" series, and is similar. The other two Berger novels in my top 5 are "Little Big Man" and the neglected "Regiment of Women", a terrific science fiction of a society with gender role reversal. Women rule. If I am not mistaken, this book predates the women's liberation movement of the 60's.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accurate reporting, April 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Crazy in Berlin (Mass Market Paperback)

This out-of-print novel is almost impossible to read, with its academic style and endless German syntax. In fact, I had to listen to it (Books on Tape) because I frequently lost interest. Only the tape player kept it alive.

Nevertheless, little parts of this novel stand out as some of the most powerful images I've ever read. The setting of post-WW2 Berlin has always fascinated me, and Berger speaks with great authority. Seemingly anachronistic references ("famous German blonde pussy") ring true. They talked like that in the 40s. Trudchen is convinving and erotic as a whore. Schatzie's execution by firing squad is too real and too detailed to be imaginary; I reember it at odd times, like when I'm falling asleep, and it still disturbs me.

I think that this book accurately reports postt-WW2 Berlin, which is a lot more than you can say about most WW2 books. History is written by the victor. Berger's novel is history written from the conquered's point of view. It is depressing but I recomend it for its veracity and its occasional powereful writing, well worth the time.

CDS