Alfred Doblin is recognised as one of the most important European novelists.
Berlin Alexanderplatz is one of the masterpieces of modern European literature and the first German novel to adopt the technique of James Joyce. It is one of the top 100 best works of fiction, as voted by 100 noted writers from 54 countries (Guardian, May 8th 2002).
It tells the story of Franz Biberkopf, who, on being released from prison, is confronted with the poverty, unemployment, crime and burgeoning Nazism of 1920s Germany. As Franz struggles to survive in this world, fate teases him with a little pleasure before cruelly turning on him.
