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Goodbye to Berlin
390 pages
A glittering, detached portrait of a bohemian underworld dancing obliviously on the edge of a historical abyss.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting in a smoky, dimly lit cabaret while a storm gathers outside. The narrative unfolds at a steady, observational pace, capturing a series of transient, glittering connections among outcasts, artists, and grifters. The prose is famously crisp and detached, acting as a passive lens that records the eccentricities and quiet desperation of its subjects without judgment. Yet, beneath the wry, bohemian decadence, a profound sense of foreboding slowly saturates the atmosphere. The emotional journey shifts from amused fascination to a chilling, melancholic realization of impending historical doom. It is a perfect read for those who love atmospheric, character-driven vignettes that explore the fragile, bittersweet beauty of a society on the brink of collapse.
- Mood
- decadent
- foreboding
- bohemian
- bittersweet
- shadowy
- Tone
- wry
- detached
- observant
- ironic
- melancholic
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- the illusion of permanence · bohemian escapism · the shadow of rising fascism · queer identity in the margins · transient connections
- The writing
- The prose is famously crisp, unadorned, and objective, acting as a passive lens that records human eccentricity with quiet, devastating precision.
- The arc
- The journey moves from a detached, glittering fascination with a bohemian underworld to a chilling, sobering realization of impending historical doom.
- Who it's for
- This is for readers who appreciate atmospheric, character-driven vignettes and the bittersweet tension of a society dancing on the edge of a volcano.
Content notes
- antisemitism
- homophobia
- impending war and fascism
- poverty
- abortion
About the book
The sequel to Mr. Norris Changes Trains, this is another semi-autobiographical account of Isherwood’s experiences in pre-war Berlin. The author leads the reader on a thoroughly entertaining tour through the seedier side of a particularly decadent time in that city’s history.
Description from Open Library.
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