The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum by Heinrich Böll

"The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum" is a story about a young woman who becomes the target of a media smear campaign after she falls in love with a man who is suspected of being a political radical. The media's relentless invasion of her privacy and the negative portrayal of her character lead to tragic consequences, highlighting the destructive power of sensationalist journalism. The novel is also a critique of the political climate in Germany during the 1970s.

The 1103rd greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 340

Since this book was first published in 1974, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 340.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.