A gushing fountain : a novel

Appearing for the first time in English, this masterful novel by one of the foremost figures of postwar German literature is an indelible portrait of Nazism slowly overtaking and poisoning a small town. Semi-autobiographical, it is also a remarkably vivid account of a childhood fraught with troubles, yet full of remembered love and touched by miracle. In a provincial town on Lake Constance, Johann basks in the affection of the colorful staff and regulars at the Station Restaurant. Though his parents struggle to make ends meet, around him the world is rich in mystery: the attraction of girls; the power of words and his gift for music; his rivalry with his best friend, Adolf, son of the local Brownshirt leader; a circus that comes to town bringing Anita, whose love he and Adolf compete to win. But in these hard times, with businesses failing all around them and life savings gone in an instant, people whisper that only Hitler can save them. As the Nazis gradually infiltrate the churches, the school, the youth organizations—even the restaurant—and come to power, we see through Johann's eyes how the voices of dissent are silenced one by one, until war begins the body count that will include his beloved older brother. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade, Yucca, and Good Books imprints, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in fiction—novels, novellas, political and medical thrillers, comedy, satire, historical fiction, romance, erotic and love stories, mystery, classic literature, folklore and mythology, literary classics including Shakespeare, Dumas, Wilde, Cather, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home. Appearing For The First Time In English, This Masterful Novel By One Of The Foremost Figures Of Postwar German Literature Is An Indelible Portrait Of Nazism Slowly Overtaking And Poisoning A Small Town. Semi-autobiographical, It Is Also A Remarkably Vivid Account Of A Childhood Fraught With Troubles, Yet Full Of Remembered Love And Touched By Miracle. In A Provincial Town On Lake Constance, Johann Basks In The Affection Of The Colorful Staff And Regulars At The Station Restaurant. Though His Parents Struggle To Make Ends Meet, Around Him The World Is Rich In Mystery: The Attraction Of Girls; The Power Of Words And His Gift For Music; His Rivalry With His Best Friend, Adolf, Son Of The Local Brownshirt Leader; A Circus That Comes To Town Bringing Anita, Whose Love He And Adolf Compete To Win. But In These Hard Times, With Businesses Failing All Around Them And Life Savings Gone In An Instant, People Whisper That Only Hitler Can Save Them. As The Nazis Gradually Infiltrate The Churches, The School, The Youth Organizations-even The Restaurant-and Come To Power, We See Through Johann's Eyes How The Voices Of Dissent Are Silenced One By One, Until War Begins The Body Count That Will Include His Beloved Older Brother-- Mother Joins The Party -- The Past As Present -- Johann Makes A Mistake He Doesn't Regret -- Suspended Payments -- Loan Guarantee -- Blessing The Flag -- Mother Joins The Party -- Meetings -- The Miracle Of Wasserburg -- The Past As Present -- La Paloma -- Anita, Anita -- The First Time -- Low Sunday -- Follow Her -- The Miracle Of Wasserburg -- Taking Leave -- Harvest -- The Past As Present -- Harvest -- Excursion -- Prose By Martin Walser ; Translated From The German By David Dollenmayer. "Appearing for the first time in English, this masterful novel by one of the foremost figures of postwar German literature is an indelible portrait of Nazism slowly overtaking and poisoning a small town. Semi-autobiographical, it is also a remarkably vivid account of a childhood fraught with troubles, yet full of remembered love and touched by miracle. In a provincial town on Lake Constance, Johann basks in the affection of the colorful staff and regulars at the Station Restaurant. Though his parents struggle to make ends meet, around him the world is rich in mystery: the attraction of girls; the power of words and his gift for music; his rivalry with his best friend, Adolf, son of the local Brownshirt leader; a circus that comes to town bringing Anita, whose love he and Adolf compete to win. But in these hard times, with businesses failing all around them and life savings gone in an instant, people whisper that only Hitler can save them. As the Nazis gradually infiltrate the churches, the school, the youth organizations-even the restaurant-and come to power, we see through Johann's eyes how the voices of dissent are silenced one by one, until war begins the body count that will include his beloved older brother"-- Provided by publisher Appearing for the first time in English, this masterful novel by one of the foremost figures of postwar German literature is an indelible portrait of Nazism slowly overtaking and poisoning a small town. Semi-autobiographical, it is also a remarkably vivid account of a childhood fraught with troubles, yet full of remembered love and touched by miracle. In a provincial town on Lake Constance, Johann basks in the affection of the colorful staff and regulars at the Station Restaurant. Though his parents struggle to make ends meet, around him the world is rich in mystery: the attraction of girls; the power of words and his gift for music; his rivalry with his best friend, Adolf, son of the local Brownshirt leader; a circus that comes to town bringing Anita, whose love he and Adolf compete to win. But in these hard times, with businesses failing all around them and life savings gone in an instant, people whisper that only Hitler can save them. As the Nazis gradually infiltrate the churches, the school, the youth organizations#8212;even the restaurant#8212;and come to power, we see through Johann's eyes how the voices of dissent are silenced one by one, until war begins the body count that will include his beloved older brother Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Contents; Part One Mother Joins the Party; Chapter One The Past as Present; Chapter Two Johann Makes a Mistake He Doesn't Regret; Chapter Three Suspended Payments; Chapter Four Loan Guarantee; Chapter Five Blessing the Flag; Chapter Six Mother Joins the Party; Chapter Seven Meetings; Part Two The Miracle of Wasserburg; Chapter One The Past as Present; Chapter Two La Paloma; Chapter Three Anita, Anita; Chapter Four The First Time; Chapter Five Low Sunday; Chapter Six Follow Her; Chapter Seven The Miracle of Wasserburg; Chapter Eight Taking Leave Part Three HarvestChapter One The Past as Present; Chapter Two Harvest; Chapter Three Excursion; Chapter Four Prose; Foreword as Afterword; Glossary