In Times of Fading Light: A Novel (Lannan Translation Selection (Graywolf Hardcover))

An enthrallingly expansive family saga set against the backdrop of the collapse of East German communism, from a major new international voice * Over 450,000 copies sold in Germany alone * Rights sold in 20 countries * Winner of the German Book Prize * A PW "First Fiction" pick * In Times of Fading Light begins in September 2001 as Alexander Umnitzer, who has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer, leaves behind his ailing father to fly to Mexico, where his grandparents lived as exiles in the 1940s. The novel then takes us both forward and back in time, creating a panoramic view of the family's history: from Alexander's grandparents' return to the GDR to build the socialist state, to his father's decade spent in a gulag for criticizing the Soviet regime, to his son's desire to leave the political struggles of the twentieth century in the past. With wisdom, humor, and great empathy, Eugen Ruge draws on his own family history as he masterfully brings to life the tragic intertwining of politics, love, and family under the East German regime. Von den fünfziger Jahren über das Wendejahr '89 bis zum Beginn des neuen Jahrtausends reicht dieser Roman einer Familie. Im Mittelpunkt drei Generationen: Die Großeltern, noch überzeugte Kommunisten, kehren aus dem mexikanischen Exil in die junge DDR heim, um dort ihren Anteil am Aufbau der neuen Republik zu leisten. Ihr Sohn, als junger Mann nach Moskau emigriert und später in ein sibirisches Lager verschleppt, tritt die Reise vom anderen Ende der Welt, dem Ural, an. Er kehrt mit seiner russischen Frau zurück in eine Kleinbürgerrepublik, an deren Veränderbarkeit er weiterhin glauben will. Dem Enkel wird die Wahlheimat von Eltern und Großeltern indes zusehends zu eng - bis er, ausgerechnet am neunzigsten Geburtstag des Patriarchen, in den Westen geht. Die Strahlkraft der politischen Utopie scheint sich von Generation zu Generation zu verdunkeln: Es ist die Zeit des abnehmenden Lichts. Ein halbes Jahrhundert gelebter Geschichte, ein Deutschlandroman voll überraschender Wendungen und Details: groß durch seine menschliche Reife, seine Genauigkeit, seinen Humor. This Expansive Family Saga, Set Against The Backdrop Of The Collapse Of East German Communism, Begins In September 2001 As Alexander Umnitzer, Who Has Just Been Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer, Leaves Behind His Ailing Father To Fly To Mexico, Where His Grandparents Lived As Exiles In The 1940s. The Novel Then Takes Us Both Forward And Back In Time, Creating A Panoramic View Of The Family's History: From Alexander's Grandparents' Return To The German Democratic Republic To Build The Socialist State, To His Father's Decade Spent In A Gulag For Criticizing The Soviet Regime, To His Son's Desire To Leave The Political Struggles Of The Twentieth Century In The Past. With Wisdom, Humor, And Empathy, Eugen Ruge Draws On His Own Family History As He Brings To Life The Tragic Intertwining Of Politics, Love, And Family Under The East German Regime.--from Publisher Description. Eugen Ruge ; Translated From The German By Anthea Bell. Originally Published Under The Title In Zeiten Des Abnehmenden Lichts--title Page Verso.