Introduction Magdalena, the clever and headstrong daughter of Bavarian hangman Jakob Kuisl, lives with her father outside the village walls and is destined to be married off to another hangman’s son—except that the town physician’s son is hopelessly in love with her. And her father’s wisdom and empathy are as unusual as his despised profession. [...]
Archive of posts tagged Germany
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
Questions for Discussion We hope the following questions will stimulate discussion for reading groups and provide a deeper understanding of Everything Is Illuminated for every reader. 1. Everything Is Illuminated is a novel written in two voices: Alex’s account of the fictional character Jonathan Safran Foer’s journey to Ukraine, and Jonathan’s magical history of [...]
The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald
Downloadable Guide for Group Discussion and Classroom use “A masterpiece. How does she do it?” — A. S. Byatt Friedrich Leopold, Baron von Hardenberg (1772—1801), was born in Oberwiederstadt, Germany, studied law, philosophy, and history, worked as a government auditor at Weissenfels, and—under the pseudonym Novalis became known as the “prophet of Romanticism.” Best [...]
