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Christopher Isherwood (1904–1986)

Autor(a) de A Single Man

85+ Works 13,053 Membros 276 Reviews 42 Favorited

About the Author

Christopher Isherwood, born in Cheshire, England, in 1904, wrote both novels and nonfiction. He was a lifelong friend of W.H. Auden and wrote several plays with him, including Dog Beneath the Skin and The Ascent of F6. He lived in Germany from 1928 until 1933 and his writings during this period mostrar mais described the political and social climate of pre-Hitler Germany. Isherwood immigrated to the United States in 1939 and became a U.S. citizen in 1946. He lived in California, working on film scripts and adapting plays for television. The musical Cabaret is based on several of Isherwood's stories and on his play, I Am a Camera. His other works include Mr. Norris Changes Trains, about life in Germany in the early 1930s; Down There on a Visit, an autobiographical novel; and Where Joy Resides, published after his death in 1986. (Bowker Author Biography) mostrar menos

Séries

Obras de Christopher Isherwood

A Single Man (1964) 2,204 cópias
The Berlin Stories (1945) 2,174 cópias
Goodbye to Berlin (1939) 2,093 cópias
Mr Norris Changes Trains (1935) 1,053 cópias
Christopher and His Kind (2001) — Autor — 795 cópias
Prater Violet (1946) 512 cópias
Down There on a Visit (1962) 387 cópias
The World in the Evening (1954) 346 cópias
A Meeting by the River (1967) 307 cópias
Memorial (1946) 244 cópias
Diaries: Volume 1, 1939-1960 (1996) 234 cópias
All the Conspirators (1928) 208 cópias
My Guru and His Disciple (1709) 205 cópias
Jacob's Hands (1998) 181 cópias
Ramakrishna and His Disciples (1965) 128 cópias
A Single Man [2009 film] (2009) — Autor — 122 cópias
Vedanta for the Western World (1945) 110 cópias
Great English Short Stories (1957) — Editor — 108 cópias
Journey to a War (1939) — Autor — 107 cópias
Kathleen and Frank (1970) 101 cópias
Exhumations (1701) 94 cópias
The Condor and the Cows (1949) 61 cópias
People One Ought to Know (1652) 61 cópias
Vedanta for Modern Man (1951) 47 cópias
October (1980) 37 cópias
The Dog Beneath the Skin (1935) — Autor — 36 cópias
Frankenstein: The True Story (1972) 35 cópias
The Ascent of F6 (1936) 34 cópias
Frankenstein: The True Story [1973 TV movie] (2006) — Screenwriter — 23 cópias
On the Frontier : A Melodrama in Three Acts (1938) — Autor — 18 cópias
Approach to Vedanta (1963) 7 cópias
The Nowaks (1904) 7 cópias
Sally Bowles 5 cópias
Selection (Imprint Books) (1979) 2 cópias
I Am Waiting 2 cópias
The Landauers 2 cópias
Passion: Men on Men {audio} — Contribuinte — 1 exemplar(es)
Odinokij muzhchina (2019) 1 exemplar(es)
Isherwood Christopher 1 exemplar(es)
Interview 1 exemplar(es)
H. G. Wells {article} 1 exemplar(es)
R. L. S. {article} 1 exemplar(es)
Klaus Mann {article} 1 exemplar(es)
The Repton letters (1997) 1 exemplar(es)
Nur zu Besuch (2021) 1 exemplar(es)
Người Cô Độc 1 exemplar(es)

Associated Works

The Bhagavad Gita (0400) — Tradutor, algumas edições9,323 cópias
Threepenny Novel (1934) — Tradutor, algumas edições685 cópias
The Assassin's Cloak: An Anthology of the World's Greatest Diarists (2000) — Contribuinte, algumas edições550 cópias
Timeless Stories for Today and Tomorrow (1952) — Contribuinte — 437 cópias
The Faber Book of Gay Short Fiction (1992) — Contribuinte — 319 cópias
The Penguin Book of Gay Short Stories (1994) — Contribuinte — 317 cópias
Cabaret [1972 film] (1972) — Original stories — 310 cópias
How to Know God (1953) — Tradutor, algumas edições301 cópias
Intimate Journals (1887) — Tradutor, algumas edições238 cópias
The Penguin Book of Homosexual Verse (1983) — Contribuinte — 236 cópias
Shankara's Crest Jewel of Discrimination (1947) — Tradutor, algumas edições202 cópias
The Columbia Anthology of Gay Literature (1998) — Contribuinte — 158 cópias
The Other persuasion: short fiction about gay men and women (1977) — Contribuinte — 121 cópias
The Norton Book of Travel (1987) — Contribuinte — 110 cópias
I Am a Camera (1951) — Original stories — 104 cópias
The Male Muse: A Gay Anthology (1973) — Contribuinte — 63 cópias
Gay Sunshine Interviews. Vol. 1 (1978) — Interviewee — 60 cópias
The Best of British SF 1 (1977) — Contribuinte — 38 cópias
Christopher and His Kind [2011 film] (1952) — Original book — 30 cópias
What Religion is in the Words of Swami Vivekananda (1962) — Introdução — 28 cópias
The Loved One [1965 film] (1965) — Screenwriter — 16 cópias
New World Writing: First Mentor Selection (1952) — Contribuinte — 11 cópias
Mr. Norris and I, an autobiographical sketch (1956) — Prefácio — 6 cópias
Concerning a Woman of Sin and Other Stories of Holllywood (1960) — Contribuinte — 6 cópias

Etiquetado

(176) 1930s (117) 20th century (261) anthology (280) autobiography (173) Berlin (318) Bhagavad Gita (265) biography (266) British (118) British literature (156) Christopher Isherwood (118) classics (167) diary (202) English literature (219) fiction (1,801) Folio Society (137) gay (458) gay fiction (122) Germany (312) Hindu (165) Hinduism (1,066) history (103) India (398) Krishna (103) lgbt (126) literature (493) memoir (234) non-fiction (398) novel (355) philosophy (474) poetry (356) read (168) religion (1,207) sacred texts (152) science fiction (101) short stories (326) spirituality (302) to-read (854) unread (112) yoga (206)

Conhecimento Comum

Membros

Discussions

Group Read, April 2020: Mr Norris Changes Trains em 1001 Books to read before you die (Abril 2020)

Resenhas

Isherwood's life in Hollywood while studying with Swami Prabhavananda
 
Marcado
ritaer | outras 5 resenhas | Mar 14, 2024 |
I intended to write separate reviews of the two novels which comprise The Berlin Stories but having read them—and about them—I think they should be treated as one book (which is, incidentally, how I purchased them).

The first half of The Berlin Stories, titled Mr. Norris Changes Trains, is one of those books you read feeling like you're missing out on critical points because it's written in a code that isn't explained. There are many references to concurrent historical events that Christopher Isherwood assumed were familiar to anyone reading his story. This might have been true in the 1950s; I doubt that today's readers know who the S.A. or Brown Shirts were or are grounded in the significance of hyperinflation which existed during the novel's timeline. Even the concept of changing trains goes unexplained.

My other observation is that not much happens in the first two-thirds of the story. William Bradshaw, the narrator, writes eloquently and engagingly about his interactions with the mysterious and suspicion-worthy Mr. Norris, mostly consisting of dinners and conversations and introductions to other mysterious characters. But this section feels more like scenery than plot.

Then Norris finagles Bradshaw into a nefarious, inadequately explained intrigue, and all the previous mysteries are clarified in a rush of action and information. The novel ends with the haphazard, unresolved fate of Mr. Norris. And you find yourself asking, "what was that all about?"

The second half, titled Goodbye to Berlin, is more a series of character sketches than a novel. Like Martin Amis' Money, which I recently read and reviewed, Isherwood injects himself into the book as a character, a literary device which makes me question whether this is a memoir rather than a novel.

The characters who people this book are interesting, as are the historical events. There are political discussions with Nazis, such as two likely Hitler Youth about their alleged preparations for war, to which they protest that Hitler is for peace. A precursor to Kristallnacht happens, as does the burning of the Reichstag. Knowing the truth behind these events will deepen your appreciation of the book and the people trapped in Hitler's rise to power.

The one element of The Berlin Stories that rendered both halves incoherent at times was its reluctance to openly confirm the male characters' homosexuality. I understand that this is how books had to be written at the time, but it was never made clear that one of Isherwood's two housemates on Rugen Island was bisexual, and his interest in dancing with girls and a female schoolteacher made me question whether I understood what was going on between the two men. The relationship between Bradshaw and Norris is equally nebulous; in fact, Isherwood at times portrays Bradshaw as heterosexual. This lack of clarity on his true nature made me wonder how I would have viewed the novel had I been unaware while reading it that Isherwood was gay.

On the whole, The Berlin Stories is an interesting read, although I wouldn't include it on a list of the best books I ever read or consider it a must-read. My three-star-rating is the blending of two and a half for Mr. Norris Changes Trains and three and a half for its companion.
… (mais)
 
Marcado
skavlanj | outras 40 resenhas | Feb 8, 2024 |
Christopher Isherwood's Goodbye to Berlin is a collection of some connected short stories about how Isherwood, once an outsider English teacher living in Berlin, became involved in several people who were threaten by the rise of the Nazis. His friendship began in some simple and subtle way, yet some ended in melancholic realization.

As time went away, the lives of people in Isherwood's circle were getting robbed by the Nazis, as well as Berlin crashed from once a center of culture and fashion with its Golden Twenties into a depressing town doomed with its citizen only be able to acclimatizing themselves with the natural law.

"The political moral is certainly depressing, these people could be made to believe in anybody or anything."

"Only a week since I wrote the above. Schleider has resigned. The monocles did their stuff. Hitler has formed a cabinet with Hugenberg. Nobody thinks it can last till the spring."

"She is merely acclimatizing herself, in accordance with a natural law, like an animal which changes its coat for the winter. Thousands of people like Frl. Schroeder are acclimatizing themselves. After all, whatever government is in power, they are doomed to live in this town."

"The sun shines, and Hitler is master of this city. The sun shines, and dozens of my friends -- my pupils at the Workers' School, the men and women I met at the I. A. H -- are in prison, possibly dead."

Interestingly, Isherwood describing his characters with queers way of thinking, making them interesting each of their own. He described two women, Sally Bowles and Natalia Landauer, with a great admiration and care, yet in an extreme subtleness, he told his readers that he had no sexual attraction towards them.

One of the character who attracted Isherwood was Bernhard Landauer, the Jews-Prussian man, wealthy and always mocking Isherwood's logic English thought with absolute sarcasm. Yet the more we delve to their story, the more we see how the attracted each other. Sadly, their fate put their life in a different road.

'Bernhard Landauer, beware. We are going to settle the score with you and your uncle and all other filthy Jews. We give you twenty-four hours to leave Germany. If not, you are dead men.'

"The Nazis may write like schoolboys, but they're capable of anything. That's just why they're so dangerous. People laugh at them, right up to the last moment…"

Initially, Isherwood came from British to Berlin to search freedom. It was ironically being asked by Herr Landauer with the discussion about Lord Byron and Oscar Wilde. For Isherwood, Berlin was land of freedom so even though he would be lonely, he chose to live there.

In his eyes, Berlin was perfect. They tolerate queer and glamorous lifestyle, they tolerate communist movement, and they tolerate Jewish business. The Nazis and Adolf Hitler changed them all. Isherwood even told about how this propaganda was being told to Berlin's citizen, making Jews the wrong side in trade. The saddest part of all was how fast the society believed all those lies.

George Orwell was right, reading Goodbye to Berlin is like reading a brilliant sketches of a society in decay.
… (mais)
 
Marcado
awwarma | outras 48 resenhas | Jan 24, 2024 |
Christopher Isherwood's Goodbye to Berlin is a collection of some connected short stories about how Isherwood, once an outsider English teacher living in Berlin, became involved in several people who were threaten by the rise of the Nazis. His friendship began in some simple and subtle way, yet some ended in melancholic realization.

As time went away, the lives of people in Isherwood's circle were getting robbed by the Nazis, as well as Berlin crashed from once a center of culture and fashion with its Golden Twenties into a depressing town doomed with its citizen only be able to acclimatizing themselves with the natural law.

"The political moral is certainly depressing, these people could be made to believe in anybody or anything."

"Only a week since I wrote the above. Schleider has resigned. The monocles did their stuff. Hitler has formed a cabinet with Hugenberg. Nobody thinks it can last till the spring."

"She is merely acclimatizing herself, in accordance with a natural law, like an animal which changes its coat for the winter. Thousands of people like Frl. Schroeder are acclimatizing themselves. After all, whatever government is in power, they are doomed to live in this town."

"The sun shines, and Hitler is master of this city. The sun shines, and dozens of my friends -- my pupils at the Workers' School, the men and women I met at the I. A. H -- are in prison, possibly dead."

Interestingly, Isherwood describing his characters with queers way of thinking, making them interesting each of their own. He described two women, Sally Bowles and Natalia Landauer, with a great admiration and care, yet in an extreme subtleness, he told his readers that he had no sexual attraction towards them.

One of the character who attracted Isherwood was Bernhard Landauer, the Jews-Prussian man, wealthy and always mocking Isherwood's logic English thought with absolute sarcasm. Yet the more we delve to their story, the more we see how the attracted each other. Sadly, their fate put their life in a different road.

'Bernhard Landauer, beware. We are going to settle the score with you and your uncle and all other filthy Jews. We give you twenty-four hours to leave Germany. If not, you are dead men.'

"The Nazis may write like schoolboys, but they're capable of anything. That's just why they're so dangerous. People laugh at them, right up to the last moment…"

Initially, Isherwood came from British to Berlin to search freedom. It was ironically being asked by Herr Landauer with the discussion about Lord Byron and Oscar Wilde. For Isherwood, Berlin was land of freedom so even though he would be lonely, he chose to live there.

In his eyes, Berlin was perfect. They tolerate queer and glamorous lifestyle, they tolerate communist movement, and they tolerate Jewish business. The Nazis and Adolf Hitler changed them all. Isherwood even told about how this propaganda was being told to Berlin's citizen, making Jews the wrong side in trade. The saddest part of all was how fast the society believed all those lies.

George Orwell was right, reading Goodbye to Berlin is like reading a brilliant sketches of a society in decay.
… (mais)
 
Marcado
awwarma | outras 48 resenhas | Jan 24, 2024 |

Listas

Europe (1)
1930s (2)

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Associated Authors

Don Bachardy Cover artist, Editor
David Pallone Contributor
Graham Chapman Contributor
John Ritter Contributor
Gabriel Byrne Contributor
Alan Steinberg Contributor
Michael York Contributor
James Joyce Contributor
Andrei Codrescu Contributor
Robert Graves Contributor
William Plomer Contributor
Joseph Conrad Contributor
H. G. Wells Contributor
D. H. Lawrence Contributor
E. M. Forster Contributor
George Moore Contributor
V. S. Pritchett Contributor
Rudyard Kipling Contributor
G.K. Chesterton Contributor
Gore Vidal Introduction
Mary Shelley Original book
Willem van Toorn Translator
John Van Druten Contributor
James Brockway Translator
Armistead Maupin Introduction
Ann Meisal Cover artist
George Grosz Illustrator
Alan Cumming Contributor
Samuel Lynn Hynes Introduction
Mario Fortunato Contributor
Beryl Cook Illustrator
Pietro Leoni Translator
Léo Dilé Translator
Kees Boukema Translator
Michel Ligny Translator
John Banting Cover designer
Aldous Huxley Contributor
Hubert Benoit Contributor
Swami Nikhilananda Contributor
Gerald Heard Contributor
Swami Turiyananda Contributor
Alan W. Watts Contributor
T. M. P. Mahadevan Contributor
Swami Saradananda Contributor
Kurt Löb Illustrator

Estatísticas

Obras
85
Also by
29
Membros
13,053
Popularidade
#1,784
Avaliação
3.9
Resenhas
276
ISBNs
500
Idiomas
21
Favorito
42

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