Description

A RADIO 4 BOOK AT BEDTIME – WINNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD 2023 – A woman approaching the ‘invisible years’ of middle age abandons her failing writing career to retrain as a chiropodist in the suburb of Marzahn, once the GDR’s largest prefabricated housing estate, on the outskirts of Berlin. From her intimate vantage point at the foot of the clinic chair, she keenly observes her clients and co-workers, delving into their personal histories with all their quirks and vulnerabilities. Each story stands alone as a beautifully crafted vignette, told with humour and poignancy; together they form a nuanced and tender portrait of a community. Part memoir, part collective history, Katja Oskamp’s love letter to the inhabitants of Marzahn is a stunning reflection on life’s progression and our ability to forge connections in the unlikeliest of places.

Publisher Review

'Delightful!' KEN FOLLETT ' 'It's rare to come across a book of such captivating warmth and humour. There is something magical at play in Marzahn, Mon Amour. I loved every page of it.'' RONAN HESSION 'Katja Oskamp knows how to capture the essence of people beautifully. They really come to life in her portraits. A powerful book.' FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER, PRESIDENT OF GERMANY; 'Marzahn, Mon Amour captures a piece of modern German history and brings it right down to the human level.' WORLD LITERATURE TODAY; 'There is great soul in this book: power, goodness and humility.' NEUES DEUTSCHLAND