It all happened in a flash. February 1933 was the month in which the fate of German writers, as for so many others, was decided. In a tensely spun narrative, Uwe Wittstock tells the story of a demise which was predicted by some but also scarcely thought possible. He reveals how, in a matter of weeks, the glittering Weimar literary scene gave way to a long, dark winter, and how the net drew ever closer for Thomas Mann, Bertolt Brecht, Else Lasker-Schüler, Alfred Döblin, and countless others.

Monday, January 30: Adolf Hitler is sworn in as Chancellor of Germany. Joseph Roth cannot wait any longer to learn what todays paper will report. He leaves for the station early in the morning and takes the train to Paris; bidding Berlin farewell comes naturally to him. Meanwhile, Thomas Mann barely spares a thought for politics during the next ten days, focusing instead on his forthcoming speech on Richard Wagner.

Weaving an intimate portrait of the major figures whose lives he follows day by day, Wittstock shows how the landslide of events which immediately followed Hitlers victory spelled disaster for the countrys literary elite. He resurrects the atmosphere of the times, marked by anxiety for many, by passivity and self-betrayal for some, and by grim determination for others. Who will applaud the new dictator, and who will flee, fearing for their life?

Drawing on unpublished archival material, this important work is both a meticulous historical narrative and a timely reminder that we must remain vigilant in the face of the forces that threaten democracy, however distant the prospect of totalitarianism may seem.

Uwe Wittstock is a journalist, critic and author who lives in Germany. He was awarded the prestigious Theodor Wolff prize for journalism in 1989.

AcknowledgementsList of IllustrationsStepping off the Cliff * The month in which the die was castThe Republics Last Dance * Saturday, 28 JanuaryHell Reigns * Monday, 30 JanuaryAxes at the Door * Tuesday, 31 JanuaryInferior Foreign-Blooded Trash * Thursday, 2 FebruaryTongue-Tied * Friday, 3 FebruaryNot Sure What to Do * Saturday, 4 FebruaryBurial in the Rain * Sunday, 5 FebruaryMeeting Routine * Monday, 6 FebruaryHideous, Violent Little Characters * Friday, 10 FebruarySchutzstaffel for Writers * Sunday, 12 FebruaryMen in Black * Monday, 13 FebruaryFever and Flight * Tuesday, 14 FebruarySlamming the Door * Wednesday, 15 FebruaryThe Little Schoolteacher * Thursday, 16 FebruaryIm Leaving. Im Staying * Friday, 17 FebruaryNo Treasure in the Silver Lake * Saturday, 18 FebruaryWhats the Point of Writing? * Sunday, 19 FebruaryPay up! * Monday, 20 FebruaryPretty Good Cover * Tuesday, 21 FebruarySurviving the Coming Weeks * Wednesday, 22 FebruaryA Minister in the Audience * Friday, 24 FebruaryCivil War Tribunal and Police Protection * Saturday, 25 FebruaryTravel Advice * Monday, 27 FebruaryDictatorship Is Here * Tuesday, 28 FebruaryFading from the World * Wednesday, 1 MarchThe Fake Mother * Friday, 3 MarchDont Open the Door! * Saturday, 4 MarchCasting a Ballot * Sunday, 5 MarchThe Emigrants Solitude * Monday, 6 MarchCourage, Fear, and Fire * Tuesday, 7 MarchNothing but Goodbyes * Wednesday, 8 MarchUnexpected Attacks * Friday, 10 MarchFinal Days * Saturday, 11 MarchDepartures * Monday, 13 MarchThe Sight of This Hell * Wednesday, 15 MarchWhat Happened Afterward * 33 Life SketchesAfterwordBibliographyIndex