“’s Every Man Dies Alone is one of the most extraordinary and compelling novels ever written about World War II. Ever. Fallada lived though the Nazi hell so every word rings true—this is who they really were: the monsters, the petty informers, the few who dared to resist. Please do not miss this.” —Alan Furst

Reading Guide EVERY MAN DIES ALONE by Hans Fallada

978-1-9355-5404-2 | 544 pages | $16.95

Discussion Questions 1. In what way does the apartment house 4. One of the foundational fears instilled in at 55 Jablonski Strasse represent the leading characters is based on their society as a whole? Do the occupations growing awareness of the murder of and character of the individual residents Jews—from Anna and Otto witnessing and their placement in the building reflect the death of Frau Rosenthal to Eva power structures or class systems within Kluge learning that her son in the SS German culture at the time? Could you was committing atrocities. How does imagine an American equivalent? this awareness effect them? What does it motivate them to do? 2. When we first meet Otto and Anna Quangel we have the sense that their 5. Why did Otto Quangel conceive of the relationship is very static. Does their plan to write and drop the postcards? relationship change over the course of the What did he think the cards would novel? How does it change? Many would accomplish? Does Otto’s thinking about call Every Man Dies Alone a love story. the postcards change over the course of Would you agree? the novel? Does Anna’s? 3. Hans Fallada brilliantly creates an 6. Enno Kluge is a shirker and a gambler, atmosphere of fear, where all the and behaves reprehensively in some characters are afraid of something. What instances. But he seems motivated more are the different kinds of fear that effect by laziness and selfishness than inherent them all? What role does fear play in evil. What do you think Fallada meant to controlling and motivating Borkhausen? represent with this character and his fate? Persicke? Enno Kluge? The judge? Otto? How is Enno different from his some-time Inspector Zott? Trudel? colleague Emil Borkhausen?

Melville House • 145 Plymouth St • Brooklyn, NY 11201 • www.mhpbooks.com Discussion Questions 7. Although Inspector Escherich is a Nazi, is 11. Much of the novel is about fractured he meant to be a sympathetic character? families - The Quangels, Eva Kluge and Does his character change, and what her husband and sons, the Borkhausen’s brings about that change? Why do you and the Persickes. How does Fallada use think Escherich kills himself? the condition of the family to express the condition of the society? 8. When Otto sees the map with all the pins on it in Inspector Escherich’s office and 12. Fallada seems to set up a dichotomy learns that most of the cards were turned between the country and the city. Why do in, he becomes distressed. Did Otto come you think he places the final, redemptive to believe that the postcard campaign was scene in the countryside, after staging the in vain? What meaning did he and Anna overwhelming majority of the book in find in their campaign? What meaning do Berlin? you the reader find? Did you think their 13. At the end of the novel, Fallada says he campaign was futile? wants to end on a hopeful note. How 9. For most of his lifetime, Otto preferred does the new family of Eva Kluge, and to keep to himself and avoid interactions the transformation of Kuno-Dieter with other people. In prison he is Borkhausen into Kuno Kienschaper confronted with many types of people. represent hope? Does this seem plausible How do these experiences change him? to you? 10. Anna Quangel seems to draw her 14. Which characters in Every Man Dies strength from her husband. Does she Alone do you believe transcend their also provide him with strength? Towards circumstances? How? the end of the novel, Anna seems to be transformed by her love for her husband. What do you think Fallada means by this transformation? Do you think Anna’s end is merciful? Why?

Melville House • 145 Plymouth St • Brooklyn, NY 11201 • www.mhpbooks.com