Tato série románů nás zavádí do bouřlivého Berlína před druhou světovou válkou. Sleduje osudy mladého cizince, který se zaplétá s ekscentrickými postavami a nespoutaným bohémským životem. Atmosféra dekadence, ironie a blížícího se nebezpečí je vykreslena s pronikavým pozorováním a břitkým humorem. Jedná se o sugestivní portrét města na pokraji zkázy a o znepokojivé politické varování.
After a chance encounter on a train the English teacher William Bradshaw starts a close friendship with the mildly sinister Arthur Norris. Norris is a man of contradictions; lavish but heavily in debt, excessively polite but sexually deviant. First published in 1933 Mr Norris Changes Trains piquantly evokes the atmosphere of Berlin during the rise of the Nazis.
The narrative explores the complexities of desire and self-perception through a protagonist who embodies the idealized woman that men fantasize about. However, once they enter a relationship, the reality often falls short of expectations. This tension between fantasy and reality highlights themes of identity, longing, and the challenges of intimacy, inviting readers to reflect on the nature of attraction and the disillusionment that can follow.
A classic of 20th-century fiction, "Berlin Stories" inspired the Broadway musical and Oscar-winning film "Cabaret." This newly released paperback edition features an Introduction by the acclaimed novelist Maupin.