Day 93: The Ending Her Publisher Wanted
On a panel at the Leipzig Book Fair, the presenter, Ulrich Brenneke (A), asks two critics, Gesine Rautenberg (B) and Hubertus Kallweit (C), about a much-praised debut novel, while its young author, Ronja Vogel (D), sits beside them.
How to study this lesson 3 steps
- Read the situation under the title. It says who is talking and how they know each other, which decides how politely they speak.
- Read the dialogue line by line with its translation, until every line makes sense. Point at (or tap) a German word to see what it means.
- Spend at least 30 minutes listening to native German, for example from the Resources page. It doesn't matter if you don't understand it yet.
Dialogue
Audio recordings are on the way. For now, each lesson is the dialogue with its English translation.
Keys: E hide English · ← → previous / next day · point at a word to see its meaning
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A
Frau Rautenberg, „Nachtfähre“ ist als Debüt gleich für den Preis der Leipziger Buchmesse nominiert. Zu Recht?
Ms Rautenberg, 'Night Ferry' is a debut, and it's already been nominated for the Leipzig Book Fair Prize. Deservedly?
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B
Hinsichtlich der Sprache unbedingt: Frau Vogel beschreibt die Elbe, als hätte sie selbst jahrelang auf dieser Fähre gearbeitet.
As far as the language is concerned, absolutely: Ms Vogel describes the Elbe as if she'd worked on that ferry herself for years.
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C
Wenn ich einhaken darf: Das Ende liest sich, als ob es die Marketingabteilung geschrieben hätte. Nach dreihundert düsteren Seiten versöhnen sich die Schwestern plötzlich bei Sonnenaufgang?
If I may come in here: the ending reads as if the marketing department had written it. After three hundred bleak pages, the sisters suddenly make up at sunrise?
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A
Angesichts der Nominierung ein harter Vorwurf. Frau Vogel, möchten Sie darauf antworten?
A harsh charge, given the nomination. Ms Vogel, would you like to respond?
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D
Herr Kallweit hat ein gutes Gespür. Das Ende stammt nämlich nicht ganz von mir.
Mr Kallweit has good instincts. The thing is, the ending isn't entirely mine.
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B
Das müssen Sie uns erklären. Hat da etwa jemand nachgeholfen?
You'll have to explain that. Did someone give it a helping hand?
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D
Mein Verlag fand ein offenes Ende zu riskant, zumal bei einem Debüt. In meiner ersten Fassung nimmt Lotte die letzte Fähre und kommt nie zurück.
My publishers thought an open ending was too risky, especially for a debut. In my first draft, Lotte takes the last ferry and never comes back.
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C
Dann richte ich meine Kritik an Ihren Verleger. Der dürfte ja heute irgendwo im Publikum sitzen.
Then I'll address my criticism to your publisher. He's probably sitting somewhere in the audience today.
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A
Dritte Reihe, und er sieht gerade aus, als würde er am liebsten selbst die letzte Fähre nehmen.
Third row, and right now he looks as if he'd like to take the last ferry himself.
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