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“Berlin Alexanderplatz”: An Evening with Ian Buruma and Michael Hofmann

On the occasion of the publication of Michael Hofmann’s new translation of Alfred Döblin’s novel Berlin Alexanderplatz, Deutsches Haus at NYU and New York Review Books present a reading and conversation between Hofmann and Ian Buruma, the editor of The New York Review of Books. Alfred P. Doblin, the author’s grandson, will read a short part of the new translation and share some remarks at the beginning of the event.

Berlin Alexanderplatz, the great novel of Berlin and the doomed Weimar Republic, is one of the most celebrated books of the twentieth century, gruesome, farcical, and appalling, word drunk, pitchdark. In Michael Hofmann’s extraordinary new translation, Alfred Döblin’s masterpiece lives in English for the first time.

As Döblin writes in the opening pages (as translated here by Michael Hofmann):

The subject of this book is the life of the former cement worker and haulier Franz Biberkopf in Berlin. As our story begins, he has just been released from prison, where he did time for some stupid stuff; now he is back in Berlin, determined to go straight. To begin with, he succeeds. But then, though doing all right for himself financially, he gets involved in a set-to with an unpredictable external agency that looks an awful lot like fate. Three times the force attacks him and disrupts his scheme. The first time it comes at him with dishonesty and deception. Our man is able to get to his feet, he is still good to stand. Then it strikes him a low blow. He has trouble getting up from that, he is almost counted out. And finally it hits him with monstrous and extreme violence.

“Berlin Alexanderplatz”: An Evening with Ian Buruma and Michael Hofmann is a DAAD-sponsored event.

Events at Deutsches Haus are free and open to the public. If you would like to attend this event please send an email to [email protected]. As space at Deutsches Haus is limited, please arrive ten minutes prior to the event to ensure you get a good seat. Thank you!











When: Fri., May. 4, 2018 at 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Where: Deutsches Haus at NYU
42 Washington Mews
212-998-8660
Price: Free
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On the occasion of the publication of Michael Hofmann’s new translation of Alfred Döblin’s novel Berlin Alexanderplatz, Deutsches Haus at NYU and New York Review Books present a reading and conversation between Hofmann and Ian Buruma, the editor of The New York Review of Books. Alfred P. Doblin, the author’s grandson, will read a short part of the new translation and share some remarks at the beginning of the event.

Berlin Alexanderplatz, the great novel of Berlin and the doomed Weimar Republic, is one of the most celebrated books of the twentieth century, gruesome, farcical, and appalling, word drunk, pitchdark. In Michael Hofmann’s extraordinary new translation, Alfred Döblin’s masterpiece lives in English for the first time.

As Döblin writes in the opening pages (as translated here by Michael Hofmann):

The subject of this book is the life of the former cement worker and haulier Franz Biberkopf in Berlin. As our story begins, he has just been released from prison, where he did time for some stupid stuff; now he is back in Berlin, determined to go straight. To begin with, he succeeds. But then, though doing all right for himself financially, he gets involved in a set-to with an unpredictable external agency that looks an awful lot like fate. Three times the force attacks him and disrupts his scheme. The first time it comes at him with dishonesty and deception. Our man is able to get to his feet, he is still good to stand. Then it strikes him a low blow. He has trouble getting up from that, he is almost counted out. And finally it hits him with monstrous and extreme violence.

“Berlin Alexanderplatz”: An Evening with Ian Buruma and Michael Hofmann is a DAAD-sponsored event.

Events at Deutsches Haus are free and open to the public. If you would like to attend this event please send an email to [email protected]. As space at Deutsches Haus is limited, please arrive ten minutes prior to the event to ensure you get a good seat. Thank you!

Buy tickets/get more info now