'One of the most distinctive voices in European literature', Germany's bestselling author Ferdinand von Schirach delivers an intimate, eye-opening collection of observations, short stories and autobiographical recollections which examine what it means to be alive.
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'One of the most distinctive voices in European literature', Germany's bestselling author Ferdinand von Schirach delivers an intimate, eye-opening collection of observations, short stories and autobiographical recollections which examine what it means to be alive.
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A TLS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023
'Marvellously unpredictable . . . by the end of the book you wish it was twice as long' (Daily Telegraph)'Beautifully translated . . . The perfect way into [Ferdinand von Schirach's] oeuvre' TLSHow does the legacy of a family past shape who we are?Ferdinand von Schirach is one of Germany's most eminent criminal defence lawyers and an internationally bestselling crime writer. He is also the grandson of Baldur von Schirach, leader of the Hitler Youth movement.In Coffee and Cigarettes, his most personal book, von Schirach confronts his family history, through autobiographical vignettes and short stories drawn from his life and career. From conversations with imprisoned clients, great writers and supreme court judges; meditations on art, film, writing and smoking; to reflections on Germany's heavy history, Coffee and Cigarettes is a portrait of the author, and our modern world, depicted in von Schirach's signature cool and incisive prose. Revealing, revelatory and thought-provoking, these essays confirm von Schirach as one of the most inimitable writers in Europe today.Critic Reviews
Veering between the insightful and the oblique, some of these jottings sear themselves onto your mind instantly [. . .] one quickly develops a taste for von Schirach's unpredictable musings, a taste which has become such a full-blown addiction by the end of the book that you wish it was twice as long -- Jake Kerridge Daily Telegraph
Beautifully translated . . . the volume thrives on the tension between von Schirach's deceptively simple prose and his profoundly humane view of the ethical calamities of our age. Combining moving character studies with essayistic contemplations of the nature of justice, human dignity and our collective human frailty, von Schirach reflects both on our capacity for cruelty and on our ability to experience healing moments of connection TLS
Praise for Ferdinand von Schirach --
Addictive . . . fascinating The Spectator
Ice-cool, effortlessly classy prose Observer
Tantalising and disturbing in equal measure -- Laura Wilson Guardian
An exceptional prose stylist New York Times
A magnificent storyteller Der Spiegel
Psychologically raw . . . delivered in a crisp translation by Katharina Hall, his unfussy prose is icily effective . . . it suggests that all justice systems are flawed, that they are all just processes. And, with immense empathy, von Schirach's stories show what happens to people when they are processed. -- Christian House Financial Times
The stories are cool, meticulously crafted, pithy and mordantly amusing . . . this is an unsettling, affecting, extremely powerful book. Highly recommended -- Declan Hughes Irish Times
An impressive page-turner with substance and bite Bookmunch
Thrilling and edgy, often carrying a twist in the tale -- To the Ends of the Word blog
About the Author
Ferdinand von Schirach was born in Munich in 1964, and has worked as a defence lawyer for twenty years. He published his first book at the age of 45 and has since published various short stories, novels, essays and plays. Ferdinand von Schirach's books have been translated into more than 40 languages, and have sold millions of copies worldwide. He lives in Berlin.
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