A Small Circus: A Novel
Hans Fallada
Language: English
Pages: 592
ISBN: 1628724323
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
Tredup, a shabby reporter working for the Pomeranian Chronicle, leads a precarious existence . . . until he takes some photographs that offer him a chance to make a fortune.
While Tredup contemplates his next move, the town is buzzing. Farmers are plotting their revenge against greedy officials, a mysterious traveling salesman is stirring up trouble, and all the while, the Nazi party grows stronger as the Communists fight them in the street.
As the town slowly slips into chaos, Mayor “Fatty” Gareis does everything in his power to seek the easy life.
As tensions mount between workers and bosses, town and country, and Left and Right, alliances are broken, bribes are taken, and plots are hatched, until the tension spills over into violence.
From the brilliant mind of one of Germany’s most celebrated writers, A Small Circus is a genuine and frightening tale of small-town Germany during a time of unrest. It belongs in the collection of every reader who has enjoyed his break-out classics.
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Trautmann!’ Trautmann looks injured. ‘Me? All I do is in the interests of the firm, keeping myself informed on occasions when you forget to call me in.’ And, pityingly: ‘Otherwise, there’d just be too much of a rickets being made.’ ‘Herr Trautmann, I will not have you cast aspersions!’ One of those poisonous scenes between boss and business manager is about to develop, in which Trautmann always comes out on top because he has tougher nerves. Tredup intervenes: ‘I know a way for you to get rid
doesn’t matter. It’s not a shame to be pregnant if you’re married. Maybe it’s even a good thing. Maybe Gebhardt will be around and see it, and slip me a little extra in my wage packet.’ ‘I don’t want that,’ she says, ‘I don’t want him to see. I can’t stand Gebhardt.’ ‘Why? Gebhardt’s all right, he’ll probably bump up my wages himself, once I’ve gone to see him ten times. I’m not ashamed. I’ll keep asking.’ ‘I really don’t like him. Ever since he told the Heinze girl he won’t pay her any more,
is holding, the flag sways violently, tips, falls. The scythe jangles on the paving stones. Frerksen gets a shove in the back, half turns round, two burning eyes glower at him, two fists are raised, a voice threatens him: ‘Get your dirty paws off our flag!’ Another jolt. A blow. Many blows on his shoulder. There is Maurer, he is yanking at the flag, which Henning just still has a hold of. Frerksen stumbles over someone’s outstretched leg. Maurer is lying on the ground, the flagpole still in his
men in this room are concerned . . .’ Grateful laughter. ‘Gentlemen, all round me I see contented, mirthful faces. You know some things may look black from a distance, but closer to they’re more like white. There’s one thing you may be sure of, the inconvenience the farmers are putting us to right now is tiny compared to the advantages we enjoy on the other side.’ ‘Piffle!’ ‘I have started talks with a number of workers’ associations. They are almost universally of the view that Altholm
hear what I asked you a moment ago? Do you understand . . . ? I want to know who “we” is. Not “we” formed a committee, “we” took the decision . . . That one part of “us” is the Franz Braun Textile Emporium, that’s something that “we” here have hoisted in, but you’re not a committee of one, are you . . . ?’ ‘Herr Stuff, can’t we deal with each other calmly? You make things so difficult for me. And at bottom, the fact is that you weren’t invited, and the negotiations were confidential. I’m really
