Ulrich Plenzdorf
Ulrich Plenzdorf was a German author and scriptwriter known for his critical stance towards East German authorities. Born on October 26, 1934, in Berlin, he gained fame with his novel 'The New Sorrows of Young W.', which was published in 1972 and became a significant work in German literature. The novel is a modern take on Goethe's 'The Sorrows of Young Werther' and reflects the disillusionment of the youth with the East German socialist system. Plenzdorf's works often featured elements of social criticism and explored themes of individuality and nonconformity. He passed away on August 9, 2007.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
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1. Die neuen Leiden des jungen W.
This novel tells the story of a young man from East Germany who rebels against the societal norms and expectations of his time. The protagonist, a skilled worker, flees from his apprenticeship and his home to Berlin, where he isolates himself in a summer house, devoting his time to his passions of reading and listening to Western music. Using the narrative style of a psychological confession, the book explores themes of youthful rebellion, the search for identity, and the conflict between individual desires and societal pressures. The protagonist's tragic end underlines the oppressive nature of the East German regime.
