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Illusions
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Expected 3 Nov 26‘The rediscovery of this lost classic will shift perceptions of German literature in the English speaking world. Mercurial, seductive, smart and startling.’ – Megan Nolan
Four office workers, one unforgettable weekend – this shimmering lost German classic unveils the hidden lives inside every employee.
Welcome to the Wellis Corporation. Twenty-three storeys of shimmering glass cubicles, rattling typewriters, spiraling corridors: a corporate kingdom with its own neon light.
Across the glittering panes, the acrobatic window cleaner swoops and dives, or pauses, still as a gargoyle, seeing things that nobody else sees.
Over one weekend, we follow four employees into their private worlds. An ageing secretary; a translator in a mid-life-crisis; a once-glamorous typist; and a lovelorn trainee.
Together, they reveal the illusions we live by – in the workplace, in the home and in our own mind’s eye.
Lost for decades since it was first published in Germany in 1959, introduced by Megan Nolan and in a hypnotic new translation by Rob Madole, this crystalline debut novel by a pioneering female writer rewrites German literary history.
Four office workers, one unforgettable weekend – this shimmering lost German classic unveils the hidden lives inside every employee.
Welcome to the Wellis Corporation. Twenty-three storeys of shimmering glass cubicles, rattling typewriters, spiraling corridors: a corporate kingdom with its own neon light.
Across the glittering panes, the acrobatic window cleaner swoops and dives, or pauses, still as a gargoyle, seeing things that nobody else sees.
Over one weekend, we follow four employees into their private worlds. An ageing secretary; a translator in a mid-life-crisis; a once-glamorous typist; and a lovelorn trainee.
Together, they reveal the illusions we live by – in the workplace, in the home and in our own mind’s eye.
Lost for decades since it was first published in Germany in 1959, introduced by Megan Nolan and in a hypnotic new translation by Rob Madole, this crystalline debut novel by a pioneering female writer rewrites German literary history.
- GenresGermany
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1959
About the author
Ruth Rehmann
19 books3 followersRuth Rehmann (June 1, 1922 – January 29, 2016) was a German writer.
Rehmann was born in Siegburg, the daughter of a local pastor. She studied in Hamburg with the aim of becoming a translator; and then she studied art history, German literature and music. During the 1950s, she worked as a violinist, as a teacher[3] and as a press secretary at the American and Indian embassies. In 1983, Rehmann ran as a Green Party candidate for a seat in the Bundestag.
In 1959, Rehmann published her first novel Illusions (Illusionen). She had attracted much attention when she read a chapter from that book at the Group 47 conference in 1958. Her second novel The People in the Valley (Die Leute im Tal) won first prize in a literature contest. Later novels include:
The Man in the Pulpit (Der Mann auf der Kanzel) (1979)
Farewell from the master class (Abschied von der Meisterklasse) (1985)
The Woman from Schwaig Farm (Die Schwaigerin) (1987)
She has also written several radio plays and some short stories.
(from WIkipedia)
Rehmann was born in Siegburg, the daughter of a local pastor. She studied in Hamburg with the aim of becoming a translator; and then she studied art history, German literature and music. During the 1950s, she worked as a violinist, as a teacher[3] and as a press secretary at the American and Indian embassies. In 1983, Rehmann ran as a Green Party candidate for a seat in the Bundestag.
In 1959, Rehmann published her first novel Illusions (Illusionen). She had attracted much attention when she read a chapter from that book at the Group 47 conference in 1958. Her second novel The People in the Valley (Die Leute im Tal) won first prize in a literature contest. Later novels include:
The Man in the Pulpit (Der Mann auf der Kanzel) (1979)
Farewell from the master class (Abschied von der Meisterklasse) (1985)
The Woman from Schwaig Farm (Die Schwaigerin) (1987)
She has also written several radio plays and some short stories.
(from WIkipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 3, 2025
Wollte mal was von einer eher unbekannteren Autorin der Gruppe 47 lesen und wurde nicht enttäuscht. Wunderschöne Wortwahl und Situationsbeschreibungen. Die auch nicht altern. Gleichzeitig kind of Kapitalismuskritik.
Von Ruth Rehmann würde ich mehr lesen wollen. Auch wenn mir die einzelnen Geschichten manchmal zu abstrakt waren und ich nicht zwischen Realität und Traum unterscheiden konnte, was eventuell auch so gewollt war.
Von Ruth Rehmann würde ich mehr lesen wollen. Auch wenn mir die einzelnen Geschichten manchmal zu abstrakt waren und ich nicht zwischen Realität und Traum unterscheiden konnte, was eventuell auch so gewollt war.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Despite being written in 1959, Illusions feels timeless. The stream of consciousness style writing is immersive in a way that allows the reader to see past the facade each character creates; their illusion, if you will.
In an effort to avoid spoiling anything, I’ll be vague here, but the title is well-chosen. The author examined illusions on a micro and macro level to beg the question, what is actually real and what makes it real? While the specific situation of each character may not be relatable, the narrative as a whole is entirely relevant; from lies we tell ourselves to societal institutions we uphold simply because that’s what we’ve always done.
I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
In an effort to avoid spoiling anything, I’ll be vague here, but the title is well-chosen. The author examined illusions on a micro and macro level to beg the question, what is actually real and what makes it real? While the specific situation of each character may not be relatable, the narrative as a whole is entirely relevant; from lies we tell ourselves to societal institutions we uphold simply because that’s what we’ve always done.
I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews