Marzahn, Mon Amour

By: Katja Oskamp, Jo Heinrich - translator

Narrated by: Angeline Armstrong

A woman approaching the ‘invisible years’ of middle age abandons her failing writing career to retrain as a chiropodist in the East Berlin suburb of Marzahn, once the GDR’s largest prefabricated housing estate. From her intimate vantage point at the foot of the clinic chair, she observes her clients and co-workers, listening to their stories with empathy and curiosity.

Part memoir, part collective history, Katja Oskamp’s love letter to the inhabitants of Marzahn is a tender reflection on life’s progression and our ability to forge connections in the unlikeliest of places. Each person’s story stands alone as a beautifully crafted vignette, but together they form a portrait of a community.

©2019 Original copyright Hanser Berlin. Translation copyright Jo Heinrich (P)2022 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

'From the humdrum to the dramatic, it offers a fascinating window into daily life and a touching tribute to Marzahn and its inhabitants.' (European Literature Network)

'Marzahn, Mon Amour is a masterclass in perspective, with its Zen-like understanding of life, ageing and death.' (The Irish Times)

'Marzahn, Mon Amour captures a piece of modern history and brings it right down to the human level.' (World Literature Today)