4 stars
short review for busy readers:
Winner of the German Youth Literature Prize in the 1980s. On a number of German middle school/high school reading lists. Violent, graphic, and relentless expose of total war set in the 30 Years War (1600s). Told in the detached, journalist manner many novels approach extremely upsetting events/themes. Excellent historical detail. More adult than what we'd think of as YA lit today.
in detail:
Set in October 1641, this novella tells the story of a small German village constantly ravaged by passing Landesknecht and foreign soldiers during the 30 Years War.
Every few weeks a new group of soldiers comes through looking for food, booty and entertainment. So much has already been stolen that the villagers are starving and have nothing left, but the soldiers don't believe it -- or don't want to -- and murder, rape, mutilate and burn what they can't benefit from. And if it's not them, it's their wives & children, who are equally as murderous and abusive.
And then there's the ever looming spectre of the Plague and other diseases that kill the weak and hungry.
"Maybe In 300 Years" shows war from the side of helpless civilians with nowhere to go and no one to call on for help.
The historical detail is excellent, but the story itself is universal. It could be set anywhere, even in the war zones of our own day and age and still carry the same impact.
This makes it important, if harrowing, reading.
I agree with the suggestion given in the notes that it not be read by young people who have nobody to talk to about the content. It's too horrific and relentless to be left alone with.
No English translation.