Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz’s Followers (146)

Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz

Born

in Germany

April 19, 1915

Died

October 29, 1942

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See also: John Grane

Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, pseudonym John Grane, was a German author.

Boschwitz was born in Berlin, the son of Salomon "Sally" Boschwitz and Martha Ella, née Wolgast. Salomon was a wealthy Jewish factory owner who had converted to Christianity in 1911, when he married Martha. Martha was descended from a prominent Lübeck patrician family, the Plitts, and had studied painting in Berlin and Munich. Salomon served in the Imperial German Army in World War I, but died on 7 May 1915 from a brain tumor, leaving Martha to raise Ulrich and his elder sister, Clarissa, and to carry on Salomon's business.

In 1935, Boschwitz's uncle, the lawyer Alexander Wolgast, was murdered in the street after criticizing the Nazis' anti-semitic Nure See also: John Grane

Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, pseudonym John Grane, was a German author.

Boschwitz was born in Berlin, the son of Salomon "Sally" Boschwitz and Martha Ella, née Wolgast. Salomon was a wealthy Jewish factory owner who had converted to Christianity in 1911, when he married Martha. Martha was descended from a prominent Lübeck patrician family, the Plitts, and had studied painting in Berlin and Munich. Salomon served in the Imperial German Army in World War I, but died on 7 May 1915 from a brain tumor, leaving Martha to raise Ulrich and his elder sister, Clarissa, and to carry on Salomon's business.

In 1935, Boschwitz's uncle, the lawyer Alexander Wolgast, was murdered in the street after criticizing the Nazis' anti-semitic Nuremberg Laws. The same year, Boschwitz received draft orders to join the Wehrmacht. Shortly thereafter, Boschwitz and his mother fled Germany for Norway; his sister, Clarissa, had already left Germany in 1933 for Palestine, where she would live the rest of her life.

In Norway, Boschwitz wrote his first novel, Menschen neben dem Leben (People Alongside Life), which was first published in Swedish, under the pseudonym John Grane, as Människor utanför, in 1937. From Sweden, he and his mother moved to Luxembourg, France, and Belgium, before ending in Britain in 1939. In either Belgium or Luxembourg, in response to the horrors of Kristallnacht, he wrote Der Reisende, which was published in English as The Man Who Took Trains (1939) in the United States and The Fugitive (1940) in the United Kingdom. The book failed to make an impact after it was originally published and was out of print shortly thereafter. However, in the 2010s the book was rediscovered and re-released as The Passenger. The revised and re-released edition was a massive success, being translated into over 20 languages and entering The Sunday Times's top ten list of best selling hardbacks more than 80 years after it was originally published.

When World War II broke out, Boschwitz and his mother were arrested by the British, classified as "enemy aliens", and interned on the Isle of Man. In July 1940, Boschwitz was deported to Australia, where he was interned at a camp in New South Wales. On the voyage there, on the HMT Dunera, a crew member threw the only draft of his latest work, Das Grosse Fressen (The Big Feast), into the ocean.

In Australia, Boschwitz worked on revising a second edition of Der Reisende and began a new novel, Traumtage (Dream Days). In 1942, he was freed and allowed to return to Britain. On 29 October, the vessel he was on, MV Abosso, was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-575. Boschwitz, aged 27, was one of the 362 people onboard who died. His last works died with him. ...more

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Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz’s books

Average rating: 3.94 · 11,697 ratings · 1,494 reviews · 2 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Passenger by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, Philip Boehm (Translator), André Aciman (Goodreads Author) (Introduction) 3.94 avg rating — 10,997 ratings — published 1939 — 70 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Berlin Shuffle by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, Philip Boehm (translator) 3.87 avg rating — 684 ratings — published 1937 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Quotes by Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz (?)

“why didn’t you flee when you could easily have done so? The answer couldn’t be more galling: because you thought things weren’t as bad as all that, because you continue to believe that this foul phase can’t possibly last much longer, because you cling to the conviction that Germany is still a democracy, not a madhouse”
― Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, The Passenger

6 likes

“Even in the cemetery a Jew isn’t safe from getting shoved around.”
― Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, The Passenger

3 likes

“There still have to be people who maintain their decency and humanity no matter what opportunities might come their way. Who don't turn into swine just because they see a puddle they might wallow in.”
― Ulrich Alexander Boschwitz, The Passenger

2 likes

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