The Berlin StoriesThe Berlin Stories
Score Classic
What it's about
Two short novels set in Berlin in the early 1930s as the Nazis rise to power. In one, a young Englishman befriends the charming, shady Mr. Norris, who seems to work for everyone. In the other, a narrator named Christopher, who calls himself a camera, sketches the people around him, especially Sally Bowles, a reckless young English singer, as the city slides into darkness.
Why it's worth reading
It's on TIME's list of the 100 best novels and inspired the musical and film Cabaret. It's witty, observant and chilling about how ordinary life continued as democracy fell.
You'll love it if you liked
Darkness at Noon
The Great Gatsby
A Moveable FeastGood to know
The stories are loosely plotted and based on Isherwood's own life in Berlin. Its gay life is mostly hinted at, as in 1930s fiction.
By the numbers
- Readers52 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics59 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller3 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
More by Christopher Isherwood
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Quick answers
Is The Berlin Stories worth reading?
Yes. It's on TIME's list of the 100 best novels and inspired the musical and film Cabaret. It ranks #1,264 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.3 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Berlin Stories about?
Two short novels set in Berlin in the early 1930s as the Nazis rise to power. In one, a young Englishman befriends the charming, shady Mr. Norris, who seems to work for everyone. In the other, a narrator named Christopher, who calls himself a camera, sketches the people around him, especially Sally Bowles, a reckless young English singer, as the city slides into darkness.
How long does it take to read The Berlin Stories?
About 5 hours (191 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Berlin Stories?
If you liked it, try Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald or A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway.