“You don’t see the forest for all the trees.”
Whether fiction or non-fiction, books about a country offer readers an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of its culture, history, and character. Few countries rival Germany in terms of vibrancy and diversity when it comes to culture, history, and character. As one of the most expressive and progressive nations globally, Germany’s unique quirks and characteristics have evolved from centuries of turbulent history, resilience, and incredible innovation. Regardless of what draws you to its borders, join us at What We Reading for the best German books to read before your visit. These reads are all set in a European country and perfectly capture the trademark German feel.
Germania: In Wayward Pursuit Of The Germans And Their History – Simon Winder
First on our list of German books is Simon Winder’s comprehensive and unique exploration of the country’s culture. In Germania, Winder attempts to answer the question “Why are you here?” posed to him by a local couple while sitting in a restaurant.
Driven by a desire to bring together all aspects of brilliant, wacky, and varied German civilization, Germania is a lighthearted and humorous read that still manages to address serious topics. Full of stories celebrating odd food, mad princes, and fairy tales, it is a celebration of Germany’s historical, linguistic, and gastronomic aspects while also exploring how our perceptions of the past can influence the present. Through his rambling quasi-history and distinctly British voice, Winder’s affection for the country is infectious, making it the perfect guidebook for understanding what makes Germany so compelling.
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The Complete Grimm’s Fairy Tales – Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm
From Hansel and Gretel and Cinderella to Snow White and The Frog Prince, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm’s collection of folklore in the early 19th century laid the foundation for some of the most iconic stories in society, establishing Germany as the unofficial fairytale capital of the world.
The descriptions of blacksmiths, cobbled streets, small cottages, and little hamlets are all distinctly Germanic, and their complete collection of stories is the perfect book for any armchair traveller wanting to feel immersed in one of their tales.
Red Love: The Story of an East German Family – Maxim Leo
A winner of the European Book Prize, Maxim Leo’s Red Love is a poignant exploration of life growing up behind the Iron Curtain. Modern German history has been defined by the divide between East and West, but it is only through this tender, humorous, and acute memoir that readers truly grasp what life for ordinary people in the German Democratic Republic was like.
Leo describes his rebellious parents who, once deeply in love, gradually grew apart. He explores what turned his grandfather, the Socialist war hero, into a stranger. Most importantly, he defines the dreams and hopes that fueled many across the country and eventually led to its collapse. Unlike other German books documenting the fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification, Red Love delivers an unflinching honesty about the early days of the GDR post-WW2, the hopes for a new world, and its fracturing through a series of small, intimate stories.
The Berlin Boxing Club – Robert Sharenow
The Berlin Boxing Club is a 2011 historical fiction book by Robert Sharenow and a Sydney Taylor Award-winning novel, considered one of the best German books set during the early Nazi years. Based on the true story of boxer Max Schmeling and his experiences following the infamous Kristallnacht, readers follow Karl Stern, a young man targeted by bullies for his Jewish heritage.
When offered boxing lessons by Max Schmeling, a champion boxer and German hero, Karl sees it as an opportunity to reinvent himself and protect his family as Nazi-fueled violence against Jews intensifies. But as Max’s fame aligns him more with the party’s elite, Karl questions where his hero’s allegiances truly lie.
Every Man Dies Alone – Hans Fallada
Another of the best WW2 German books inspired by a true story of an ordinary man defying the tyranny of Nazi rule, Every Man Dies Alone transports readers to Berlin in 1940.
Readers enter the house at 55 Jablonski Strasse, home to various occupants attempting to live under the Nazi regime in different ways. The house includes devout Hitler loyalists the Persickes, retired Judge Fromm, and the unassuming couple Otto and Anna Quangel. After learning their son has been killed fighting in France, the Quangels begin a deadly campaign of defiance, deception, and betrayal against the Gestapo. Fast-paced, gripping, and moving, Every Man Dies Alone offers one of the most intimate portraits of ordinary life in Germany during the Second World War and some of the darkest years of the 20th century.
The Reader – Bernhard Schlink
Fifteen-year-old Michael Berg is saved by Hanna, a woman twice his age, when he falls ill on his way home from school. Soon, they become lovers until she suddenly disappears. When he encounters her again, he is a law student, and she is on trial for a heinous crime. As she refuses to defend her innocence, Michael begins to realize she may be hiding something even more sinister than murder.
Bernhard Schlink’s The Reader is a classic German book from the 1990s. This short story has received acclaim for the moral questions it poses and is a gripping exploration of love, compassion, and secrets. Its post-war German setting is the perfect backdrop for the story, making it a must-read for anyone seeking a quintessential German literature experience.
The Invention of Curried Sausage – Uwe Timm
Uwe Timm’s The Invention of Curried Sausage is a charming and revealing German book about the creation of the country’s most popular delicacy, memory, and storytelling. Set in Hamburg, the story follows Lena Brucker, an elderly woman in a care home who claims to have invented currywurst during World War II.
Intrigued by her claim, journalist Hermann Bremer investigates the truth behind the invention of the curried sausage. As he delves deeper into Lena’s account, he uncovers a remarkable story of love, loss, betrayal, and survival. A thought-provoking piece of historical fiction that delves into personal memories and how individuals process trauma, The Invention of Curried Sausage provides a unique perspective on wartime Germany and the resilience of the human spirit.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
