Every Man Dies Alone

By Hans Fallada
Translated by Michael Hofmann

“The greatest book ever written about the German resistance to the Nazis.” — Primo Levi

“One of the most extraordinarily ambitious literary resurrections in recent memory.” —The Los Angeles Time

“A riveting page turner.” —NPR’s Fresh Air

This unflinching masterpiece based on a true story of resistance is more timely than ever, as fascist forces in the 20th century find their home in the rhetoric of the modern right-wing political agenda.

Entering its 15th year of English translation, the brilliant Hans Fallada’s account of what The New Yorker called “a visceral, chilling portrait of … everyday German life during the war” follows a working-class couple in Berlin and grieving the loss of their son, launch a campaign to oppose the Nazi regime.

Based on a true story from the files of the Gestapo, this sweeping saga of resistance is more relevant than ever in modern times, with the rise of right-wing rhetoric echoed in global politics, and seen in increased book bannings and the reversal of womens’ and LGBTQ+ rights in the US.

In the end, it’s more than an edge-of-your-seat thriller, more than a moving romance, even more than literature of the highest order—it’s a deeply stirring story of two people standing up for what’s right — even against impossible odds.

Paperback
592 pages
Melville House, 2024
Originally published in 1947
5.5 x 8.25 inches
ISBN 9781685891442
Historical Fiction, Suspense Thriller