What do you think?
Rate this book
Learning German
"Not many know and love Europe, and our complex relationship with it, like Luscombe. And no one can communicate that with such fantastically self-deprecating wit." Federay Holmes, Associate Artist at the Globe Theatre London. With the possibility looming that the referendum might get passed and he'll lose easy access to his German partner and Germany, British stage director Tim Luscombe must get a German passport. To apply he must first pass his German language test. To do that, he must first learn German. It goes badly. An ode to a potential union, a lament for lost citizenship and a celebration of life, Tim Luscombe’s comic diary charms as it enlightens. Apparently secure in the cosmopolitan bubble of Berlin, Tim seeks to win citizenship by returning to school to learn German. However, his twenty international classmates are not as focussed on study as he would wish. Karole from Botswana, Mervyn from Estonia and Jang-Mi from Korea become his new unlikely friends as together they grapple with mind-bending grammar, the art of integration and baffling immigration paperwork. As their flawed but valiant teacher attempts to coral her ship of fools towards an understanding of the dative, some prosper while others move on.
As well as reflecting the anarchy of the class, Learning German (badly) records Tim’s despair watching from afar the build-up to the referendum to leave the European Union - Brexit. And then its aftermath when the UK votes to leave the EU. His sense of himself as a European is threatened when a new England is born, heralded by Teresa May’s conference speech damning ‘citizens of nowhere’. As an old England dies and Tim mourns and feels a sense of loss and confusion, his father also faces his own death in Teddington Hospital, forcing priorities to shift and the comedy to darken. As a European political union is torn apart, a new personal union deepens when Tim’s peregrinations end and he falls in love with his newly adoptive country and marries his German boyfriend.
This comedy of manners is as much about the dynamics of a classroom as it is about a union of countries – as much about feelings of isolation among unfamiliar people-places-and-things as it is about how those feelings ultimately transform into renewal. Its central interests are transience, identity, community – and how not to learn German.
As well as reflecting the anarchy of the class, Learning German (badly) records Tim’s despair watching from afar the build-up to the referendum to leave the European Union - Brexit. And then its aftermath when the UK votes to leave the EU. His sense of himself as a European is threatened when a new England is born, heralded by Teresa May’s conference speech damning ‘citizens of nowhere’. As an old England dies and Tim mourns and feels a sense of loss and confusion, his father also faces his own death in Teddington Hospital, forcing priorities to shift and the comedy to darken. As a European political union is torn apart, a new personal union deepens when Tim’s peregrinations end and he falls in love with his newly adoptive country and marries his German boyfriend.
This comedy of manners is as much about the dynamics of a classroom as it is about a union of countries – as much about feelings of isolation among unfamiliar people-places-and-things as it is about how those feelings ultimately transform into renewal. Its central interests are transience, identity, community – and how not to learn German.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2019
1 person is currently reading
26 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 11, 2020
It is strange to pick up a book which speaks to your life so strongly, it could have been your autobiography.
Luscombe is an English writer who lives in Berlin and is trying to learn to speak German. Like me, he faces the problem that everyone in Berlin speaks English (and wants to practice on you), German is a complex language (with three genders which decline through cases which are invisible in English and has adjectives which agree with the gender and the case) and his vocabulary is that of a seven year old.
The main thrust of the book is the class of international characters who are also seeking to learn German with Luscombe (often making greater strides against greater odds). Other important strands are his love for his German boyfriend and the deteriorating health of his father back in Germany. All of this is set against the backdrop of the UK referendum to stay or leave the EU which is basically driving Luscombe to the edge of madness and feeding his desire to learn German so he can still be European (even if the rest of the UK wants to turn it's back on the continent). I have no problem relating to his fears as I've had many similar nightmares myself.
A great read that I raced through.
Luscombe is an English writer who lives in Berlin and is trying to learn to speak German. Like me, he faces the problem that everyone in Berlin speaks English (and wants to practice on you), German is a complex language (with three genders which decline through cases which are invisible in English and has adjectives which agree with the gender and the case) and his vocabulary is that of a seven year old.
The main thrust of the book is the class of international characters who are also seeking to learn German with Luscombe (often making greater strides against greater odds). Other important strands are his love for his German boyfriend and the deteriorating health of his father back in Germany. All of this is set against the backdrop of the UK referendum to stay or leave the EU which is basically driving Luscombe to the edge of madness and feeding his desire to learn German so he can still be European (even if the rest of the UK wants to turn it's back on the continent). I have no problem relating to his fears as I've had many similar nightmares myself.
A great read that I raced through.
November 24, 2019
Claret Press’s latest publication is a book for our time. Playwright Tim Luscombe’s life is embedded in being European as he divided his life between work in the UK and home life in Berlin with his boyfriend Sven. The decision to hold a referendum on membership of the EU ,like an approaching tornado, threatens to blow away all he valued. Should he become a German citizen and thus remain European ? ‘Learning German (badly )’ introduces us to the subtleties of life in Berlin. The author introduced me to a new concept- Vergangenheitsbewaltigung . It means learning to come to terms with the past for which I admire modern Germany. If only the English could grapple with that. I was also introduced to the idea that Jane Austen’s self -satisfied Emma could represent England while less privileged Harriet Smith stands for Ireland and Frank Churchill for Nigel Farage! How apt is that? If you like books that open windows into another culture this one is for you. The current events that brought shock and upheaval in Tim’s life have echoes everywhere today.
October 6, 2020
Tim Luscombe has to pass his german language exam to get German citizenship so he can cross easily into Germany after Brexit. He is one of those odd people who can live in one country and work in another. Apparently he lived for years in Germany without ever learning the language, which says something quite interesting about Germany. But now reluctantly but with considerable wit, he’s learning german (badly). What we learn is actually that the european union is more than a trade agreement: to be European is about identity. With considerable grief Luscombe is forced to choose between being British and German. His journey is moving, funny and it and shows us a different side of this whole Brexit debate.
April 26, 2022
Learning German by Tim Luscombe is such a great book which educates you on the consequences the Brexit can have on people.
Tim doesn’t know where he belongs anymore. He works in England but lives in Germany with the love of his life. He decides he is European, as if somehow the nation state no longer matters. Then Brexit comes to him and he no longer knows whether he can be European or not. Learning German is a hilarious and touching personal exploration of the impact of the Brexit on a very political man.
Tim Luscombe made this book not only for education purposes, Learning German also has the ability to give you a good laugh. It is such a joyful read. 5 out of 5 stars for me. I would absolutely recommend it.
Tim doesn’t know where he belongs anymore. He works in England but lives in Germany with the love of his life. He decides he is European, as if somehow the nation state no longer matters. Then Brexit comes to him and he no longer knows whether he can be European or not. Learning German is a hilarious and touching personal exploration of the impact of the Brexit on a very political man.
Tim Luscombe made this book not only for education purposes, Learning German also has the ability to give you a good laugh. It is such a joyful read. 5 out of 5 stars for me. I would absolutely recommend it.
October 6, 2020
I read this book because I thought it would be about Brexit and I wanted to understant more about what was going on, but actually I ended up learning a lot about Berlin and Germany. Berlin comes across as the most fantastic place to live, and on the back of reading this book i might start planning a trip to spend the weekend there.
This is a personal, but well informed showcase of what modern Berlin is like: tolerant, international, edgy and yet undeniably German. Luscombe, the author, clearly loves the place, for all his frustrations with the German language, the German people and his German teacher.
This is a personal, but well informed showcase of what modern Berlin is like: tolerant, international, edgy and yet undeniably German. Luscombe, the author, clearly loves the place, for all his frustrations with the German language, the German people and his German teacher.
August 2, 2020
Living in Berlin as an expat, I felt myself completely relating to so many aspects of this book. A well-written, entertaining read that had me both laughing out loud and taking notes on Tim’s various tips throughout the book.
February 18, 2022
Despite the government’s best efforts to pretend that Brexit has been a success, this hilarious and insightful book shows the complexity of leaving the EU. It was never just about trade. It was also about identity and being part of something larger.
December 20, 2020
This book was a five star plus for me. Admittedly, I am in the throes of learning German because my daughter, son-in-law, and potential grandson live there. Like Tim Luscombe, I have been at it for several years and, I often feel that I lack traction. Instead of buckling down to memorize all the umpteen German versions of the word "the" (so delightfully simple in English), I feel rebellious and avoid the rote memorization and practice needed. Also, like Tim Luscombe, I am passionate about speaking and writing in a nuanced manner, which is impossible for me to do in German. Extemporaneous speaking in German seems about as possible as leaping over a tall building. Writing in German is more feasible, but it takes time, like carving words into a stone tablet.
But even if you are not trying to learn German, you may well enjoy this clever book, which is full of insight about the cultural differences between Germans and Brits, and among the Chinese, Korean, Tunisian, Italian, and Estonian students who populate his class at the Berlin Volkshochschule (people's high school). His vivid descriptions of these people are witty and often very funny.
Others will enjoy this memoir because it takes place during the time of the BREXIT referendum in the U.K. For Luscombe, this was a wrenching time because of his intense commitment to being a European as opposed to a Brit and the practical problems of continuing to live and work in Germany if British citizens were no longer welcome. He is studying German, in part, so that he can pass a language competency test required for German (and therefore EU) citizenship.
Another facet of this memoir is Luscombe's life as a gay man with a gay partner. Being gay in Berlin is no big deal. Berlin is a free and non-judgmental environment.
Luscombe is an Oxford grad with a career as a theatre director that has taken him all over Europe. He is literate, articulate, and clever throughout this memoir. It was a joy to read. I recommend it highly.
But even if you are not trying to learn German, you may well enjoy this clever book, which is full of insight about the cultural differences between Germans and Brits, and among the Chinese, Korean, Tunisian, Italian, and Estonian students who populate his class at the Berlin Volkshochschule (people's high school). His vivid descriptions of these people are witty and often very funny.
Others will enjoy this memoir because it takes place during the time of the BREXIT referendum in the U.K. For Luscombe, this was a wrenching time because of his intense commitment to being a European as opposed to a Brit and the practical problems of continuing to live and work in Germany if British citizens were no longer welcome. He is studying German, in part, so that he can pass a language competency test required for German (and therefore EU) citizenship.
Another facet of this memoir is Luscombe's life as a gay man with a gay partner. Being gay in Berlin is no big deal. Berlin is a free and non-judgmental environment.
Luscombe is an Oxford grad with a career as a theatre director that has taken him all over Europe. He is literate, articulate, and clever throughout this memoir. It was a joy to read. I recommend it highly.
November 11, 2019
Uplifting read about German language and life
In this very funny memoir Tim Luscombe, British and living in Germany, attempts to get to grips with the German language whilst having a lot of fun in Berlin.
A book for anyone who has ever tried to learn German. Tim turns the frustrations we have all suffered in the classroom into laugh out loud anecdotes, even including humour about German adjective endings! Meanwhile outside of class Tim is struggling to turn Jane Austen’s Emma into a stage show relevant to today, and enjoying everything Berlin has to offer. He is also worrying about family back in the UK, and juggling work opportunities in the UK with his life in Berlin. So many things an expat can identify with – only a lot funnier!
In the midst of all this, the Brexit referendum is about to happen. Tim describes his reaction to the result, and the uncertainty of being a Brit living in Europe during the referendum aftermath. I think its fair to say that his sense of humour dampens a little at this stage, but the antics of his classmates soon bring laughter back to the pages.
In addition to Tim’s personal take on life in Germany, he offers fascinating insights into the culture and history of the German people, with plenty of information for visitors to Berlin including buildings of historical interest, art and eclectic music and entertainment venues. There is also a short section about gay nightlife.
This is a book that celebrates Europe, exploring Berlin and all its wonderfulness and bringing humour to the world of language learning and Brexit.
5*s from me, as I laughed out loud throughout this book. Everything in it is so true to life, and in line with many of my experiences of being an expat in Austria.
Note: Don’t read this in bed whilst your partner is trying to sleep – trying to laugh quietly is very irritating (so I’m told!)
In this very funny memoir Tim Luscombe, British and living in Germany, attempts to get to grips with the German language whilst having a lot of fun in Berlin.
A book for anyone who has ever tried to learn German. Tim turns the frustrations we have all suffered in the classroom into laugh out loud anecdotes, even including humour about German adjective endings! Meanwhile outside of class Tim is struggling to turn Jane Austen’s Emma into a stage show relevant to today, and enjoying everything Berlin has to offer. He is also worrying about family back in the UK, and juggling work opportunities in the UK with his life in Berlin. So many things an expat can identify with – only a lot funnier!
In the midst of all this, the Brexit referendum is about to happen. Tim describes his reaction to the result, and the uncertainty of being a Brit living in Europe during the referendum aftermath. I think its fair to say that his sense of humour dampens a little at this stage, but the antics of his classmates soon bring laughter back to the pages.
In addition to Tim’s personal take on life in Germany, he offers fascinating insights into the culture and history of the German people, with plenty of information for visitors to Berlin including buildings of historical interest, art and eclectic music and entertainment venues. There is also a short section about gay nightlife.
This is a book that celebrates Europe, exploring Berlin and all its wonderfulness and bringing humour to the world of language learning and Brexit.
5*s from me, as I laughed out loud throughout this book. Everything in it is so true to life, and in line with many of my experiences of being an expat in Austria.
Note: Don’t read this in bed whilst your partner is trying to sleep – trying to laugh quietly is very irritating (so I’m told!)
June 22, 2020
I wouldn't have thought it was possible to write something so witty and at the same time so heartfelt about something as turgid as Brexit. Director, playwright and adaptor Tim Luscombe thinks he's got it all sorted. He's living in Berlin with the love of his life and working in English for the English in England. And then the Brexit referendum happens and he realises that he needs to learn German to pass the naturalisation exam so that he can continue to go back and forth between the two countries.
Despite his ability with the English language, learning German goes badly. Or perhaps because he's so good at the English language, learning German goes badly.
What follows is a thoughtful presentation of his Berlin: of theatres and of students from around the world, of Brexit and national identity and being British. But with razor-sharp insights, critical self-awareness, and a sly wit.
Despite his ability with the English language, learning German goes badly. Or perhaps because he's so good at the English language, learning German goes badly.
What follows is a thoughtful presentation of his Berlin: of theatres and of students from around the world, of Brexit and national identity and being British. But with razor-sharp insights, critical self-awareness, and a sly wit.
November 5, 2019
I found this book to be incredibly funny and honest. It examines all the hypocrisies of multi-cultural life with great wit and introspection, while also celebrating and reveling in its heterogeneity. What particularly resonated with me was the author's willingness for introspection and self-criticism, often realised in a very amusing and self-deprecating style. An incredibly readable and enjoyable diary.
November 16, 2019
A hilarious memoir recalling the life of a Brit in Berlin around the time of 2016’s Brexit bombshell.
Tim writes engagingly and honestly about his reaction to the referendum result, his belief in the European Union and of course, the agonising linguistic journey for which this book is titled. These big subjects are effortlessly entwined with the day-to-day life of an expat in Berlin.
Tim writes engagingly and honestly about his reaction to the referendum result, his belief in the European Union and of course, the agonising linguistic journey for which this book is titled. These big subjects are effortlessly entwined with the day-to-day life of an expat in Berlin.
November 12, 2019
A wry, witty, self-deprecating diary of Brexit angst from a Brit abroad in 2016 determined to learn German but finding it less than straightforward. Wonderful cast of characters and a bit of a travelogue of Berlin too. Highly recommended
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews