Classic Weimar-era setting captures the zeitgeist of early 20th-century Berlin for immersive historical context
Multi-narrative structure brings together diverse characters and their intertwined lives for a rich, layered story
Original 1932 film adaptation by Greta Garbo and John Barrymore inspired the novel, enhancing its cultural significance
English edition published by New York Review Books, ensuring fidelity to the original text
Read group guide included for guided literary discussion and deeper engagement
Summarized by Shop
A grand hotel in the center of 1920s Berlin serves as a microcosm of the modern world in Vicki Baum’s celebrated novel, a Weimar-era best seller that retains all its verve and luster today. Among the guests of the hotel is Doctor Otternschlag, a World War I veteran whose face has been sliced in half by a shell. Day after day he emerges to
