NYRB Classics discussion

Our June book club choice is:

The Seventh Cross by Anna Seghers
Margot Bettauer Dembo (Translator) Thomas von Steinaecker
(Afterword)

,The Seventh Cross is one of the most powerful, popular, and influential novels of the twentieth century, a hair raising thriller that helped to alert the world to the grim realities of Nazi Germany and that is no less exciting today than when it was first published in 1942. Seven political prisoners escape from a Nazi prison camp; in response, the camp commandant has seven trees harshly pruned to resemble seven crosses: they will serve as posts to torture each recaptured prisoner, and capture, of course, is certain. Meanwhile, the escapees split up and flee across Germany, looking for such help and shelter as they can find along the way, determined to reach the border. Anna Seghers’s novel is not only a supremely suspenseful story of flight and pursuit but also a detailed portrait of a nation in the grip and thrall of totalitarianism.

Margot Bettauer Dembo’s expert new translation makes the complete text of this great political novel available in English for the first time.

This topic is open for all comments. Spoilers may be included.

Got my copy in the mail today, hoping to start this weekend.

I joined this Group especially for this read. I think it was one of you, Emily or Sam, that mentioned in the Newest Literary Fiction group this was going to be group-read here.

I read Transit two or three years ago and loved it so much I immediately bought The Seventh Cross (in the new translation), but it sits on my shelf ever since, so if I don't read it now, maybe I never will.

Welcome Rueben. I have only just started myself so you aren't behind.

I haven’t started yet either, but hope to Friday.

I'm just about 30 pages in, started on the bus today.

I've finished it - loved it

Cordelia wrote: "I've finished it - loved it"

Cordelia you are leading us all. Looking forward to your thoughts.

How is everyone one doing with The Seventh Cross? I am alittle less than half finished and will have to pick up the pace over the last few days. The reading while enjoyable was a little denser than I like for summer weather. I like to read outside and noise and other distractions have prevented me from giving this the concentration it needs. I will add my thoughts when finished.

I've been having similar problems: in my case it's a bit dense for reading on the bus. I made good progress the other evening though when I read a bit swathe at night, and we have a long weekend here so I hope to get through it soon. Happy to discuss anyway as I remember the vague outline from twenty years ago.

Same for me...I am enjoying it but wasn't making much progress. I decided on Wednesday to use an Audible credit for the audio version and that helps although paying attention is still necessary given the frequently changing perspectives (for instance I must have missed why they found the wrong jacket...). I am now a little over a third in.

Ruben wrote: "Same for me...I am enjoying it but wasn't making much progress. I decided on Wednesday to use an Audible credit for the audio version and that helps although paying attention is still necessary giv..."

I missed that too, Rueben.

They found the right jacket; Fritz lied because he had become uncomfortable with the idea of the man who had his jacket been recaptured.

thanks Emily! Indeed, the camp commander complains about it later on :)

I made good progress today, now really into it!

I finished on Monday but have been busy!

This is such a wonderful book. Even though I remembered the basics of the plot I was hooked reading it again. It's really beautiful the way it transitions from the beginning when everyone is a potential enemy, to the end when so many people are potential resistors. And in a sense that makes it seem naïve too, and contrasts strangely with how other parts of it read as an early warning sign.

Emily wrote: "I finished on Monday but have been busy!

This is such a wonderful book. Even though I remembered the basics of the plot I was hooked reading it again. It's really beautiful the way it transitions ..."

I will finish tomorrow. I agree about it being a wonderful book although this styl is difficult for me to read, especially in the heat. I have fallen asleep during every sitting with the book.

I really enjoyed this book. What I found fascinating was that for a book with such a dense and heavy plot/topic, it was remarkably light and easy to read. Such wonderful writing. I would be very interested in reading "Transit" sometime.

I would also like to read Transit.

I finished yesterday, excellent book! I found it a fascinating insight in Nazi Germany before the war (although I understand from the Afterword Seghers fled already in 1933). It was interesting to see how big a role the Great War still played in people's minds and lives. And also to see the impact of Germany's economic recovery on people's acceptance of the regime despite its cruelty most people seem to disagree with. I guess the year is 1938 or so, the Nazis are firmly in power, but there are still some struggling, silent pockets of resistance (I had the same feeling of Emily that Georg was very lucky, but perhaps the Mainz area was traditionally opposed?), the war not yet begun, the Spanish Civil War often being referred to.

The fact that at the time of writing the author did not yet know how much worse the situation would get adds an extra dimension to the reading experience.

I also liked the absence of lengthy flashbacks. I often find flashbacks a weakness in thrillers or mysteries; some personal back history, a trauma or whatever, used to build character and justify an improbable plot. Here, we stay firmly in the present, the escape plot is central all the way through, but as it touches so many people we get an insight in many different German households and how they choose to interact with the regime.

Transit is also excellent but quite different, it feels more experimental and reminded me of Catch-22. I wonder why Seghers seems to have stopped writing at the end of the 1940s, even though she lived until the 80s.

I googled her. She seems to have written a lot more books - just haven't been translated into english.

I would be interested in Transit for the future.

I was struck by the modernity of the prose for a novel that was a best seller. The author's choice of incorporating so many characters without backstory was demanding to read but gave that sense of being caught up in the times and swept along with the crowd. Thanks for this nomination.

Our next book is Mawrdew Czgowchwz by James McCourt, a very different book, but one that should be equally interesting and entertaining. This topic shall remain open for further comments in the future.

Sam wrote: "I would be interested in Transit for the future.

I was struck by the modernity of the prose for a novel that was a best seller. The author's choice of incorporating so many characters without bac..."

I agree. So many characters and so much happening. This may reflect that the book was written at that time and Seghers is reflecting what actually happened. While on the run there would be no time to get to know the individual characters. I also agree, the writing is very modernist. Jumps from one perspective to another without warning.

I have set this book aside for a reread in the future.