In Times of Fading Light

In Zeiten des abnehmenden Lichts

review

Ruge’s assured debut novel covers four generations of an East German family and centres around the ninetieth birthday party of a life-long Party hardliner and functionary – on 1 October 1989. Everyone knows what is going on, but no one is allowed to mention ‘certain events’.

The twists and turns of the plot are skilfully interwoven, the dialogue crisp, and the constant switching between generations and characters is handled with a sure touch. The Fading Light is a moving family saga with deft touches of humour, of special interest for its panorama of East German life and ideas through the late twentieth century.

about the author

rights information

Translation rights sold to:
World English (Graywolf Press), Spain (Anagrama), Italy (Mondadori), France (Éditions), First (F), The Netherlands (De Geus), Greece (FI)

Translation rights available from:
Rowohlt Verlag GmbH
Email: carolin.mungard@rowohlt.de

translation assistance

Get information on the English version here (US).