Customer Reviews

The German Lesson

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A young pupil in post-war germany, Siggi Jepsen, is forced to write an article, because he failed in the german lesson. The theme is: The joy of duty. When thinking of duty, he is forced to think about his father, a police officer. During the Nazi Era, the so called "forbidden art" was removed by state forces. Jepsens father, in his urge to do his duty, whatever it may be, not asking about the consequences, does, whatever he has to do. Young Siggi Jepsen (10 years old) has another thinking of duty. He thinks, his duty is to preserve the paintings of the "forbidden art" of the artist Nansen and tries to conceil those sympathies from his father. This more or less silent conflict about duty is the intruiging part about the book.

what is the duty of man? What is the reaction of a small countryside town of the northernmost germany to the cruel Nazi-era? What are "normal people" like in extreme situations? This is described in Lenz'book in a very silent, innerflecting way.

What can I say about this this book, apart from that it is an absolute must for anybody who is interested in Germany. Beautifully written, with strong characters that cover the whole spectrum of the German society. In my eyes within the top ten books ever.

I have read this book twice and am convinced it is one of the most artistic, profoundly conceived novels I have ever read, and I am a reader of Henry James, who I thought could not be beat.

In examining art and censorship, Lenz mirrors his theme by painting with words - his writing mirrors painting in a way I have never seen. Subtle brushstrokes, shadows, foregrounds, background - I have never seen writing done this way. His handling of time, of art, of "invisible" paintings, of nature, of human nature, and the intricacies of memory is done so skillfully that I am spellbound the minute I pick the book up. Lenz doesn't slip up once; it's as if he is almost hypnotized by his own subject matter. In short, after 35 years of reading fine books, this one, to me, tops them all. I really wonder how many people have actually read this book and have seen it for what it is: a true masterpiece.

Of course this book is about duty. Also about adolescence. Also about art. Everyone in the book has a duty to something. Siggi is a great character and seeing the world through his eyes makes one think about their own duties, makes one wonder when to face them and when to see that they are wrong.
I really enjoyed this book because to me it wasn't so much about the Nazi time, but about censorship and the duty to do art.
This is a book that if you like history, Germany, art or just a really good story you should read. It appeals to both sexes too.