Hochzeitslose

by Maria Beig

English (translation)
Original German

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Anni Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book that I have read by Maria Beig. I was hesitant to read it, not really having enjoyed the first one (Rabenkrächzen). In her book Hochtzeitslose (roughly translates to "Weddingless", the author takes a look at the lives of four women around the time of the second world war in the area of Upper Swabia. Each of the four women, all more dependent and self-confident women than was usual at that time, particularly in rural areas, are both failures - in the sense of not having managed to secure a husband and bring up children - and successes, each with their own talents and firm opinions, certainly representing the rising influence of the feminists around that time. The men in Beig's stories are weak and vaguely defined, in no way any match for the formidable Babette, Helena, Klara or Martha. And yet, the women are not always completely happy in their environment, often themselves standing in their own way as they seek to live out their lives.
The prose is crisp and unadorned, yet I do think that the afterword by Martin Walser glorifies the author somewhat, as her books came out at a time in the 80's in which "Heimat" literature such as this was a brief sensation on the book market.
I do however think that the book deserves its four stars.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Especially the first two novellas.