Bernhard Schlink, Der Vorleser [The Reader]

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Germany’s foremost literary export in the last quarter century has undoubtedly been Bernhard Schlink’s novel

The Reader

. Published in German as

Der Vorleser

(1995), it was propelled to international acclaim by the English translation of Carol Brown Janeway (1997); since then it has been translated into over 35 languages. It was an Oprah Winfrey Book Club selection (1999), which no doubt contributed to the novel’s meteoric cultural ascent. The novel is a favorite in U.S. college German programs, and virtually required reading in British and German college preparatory schools. Fifteen years after its publication,

The Reader

continues to play a significant role in German public culture and beyond.

“The Reader” of the novel’s title is Michael Berg, a middle-class fifteen year-old

2095 words

Citation: Donahue, William Collins. "Der Vorleser". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 18 January 2011 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=24331, accessed 19 March 2024.]

24331 Der Vorleser 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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