It covers ten years in the writers lifefrom 1929, when isherwood left england to spend a week in berlin and decided to stay there indefinitely, to the beginning of 1939, when he arrived in new york to start a life in the states. His bestknown works include goodbye to berlin, a semiautobiographical novel which inspired the musical cabaret, a single man adapted as a film by tom ford in 2009, and christopher and his kind, a memoir which carried him into the heart of the gay liberation movement. At the december 2007 meeting of the nyc lgbt center book discussion group, we read and discussed christopher and his kind by christopher isherwood. It tells the story of christopher isherwood s exploits in berlin in the early 1930s. With incredible candour and wit, isherwood recalls the decadence of berlins night scene and his route to sexual liberation. Christopher and his kind by isherwood, christopher, 19041986. Vain, a hypochondriac, antisemetic and misogynistic, isherwood certainly had his faults, but as the last volume of his diaries reveals, he could be clever and kind, and had a gift for love. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Christopher and his kind is an intriguing slice of autobiography. Describes ten years in the writers life, from 1929 when he left england for a stay in berlin, through his years of wanderings around a troubled europe to his 1939 arrival in the united states. This first edition, signed by christopher isherwood is available at bauman rare books. Listen to christopher and his kind by christopher isherwood.
Christopher and his kind, 19291939 christopher isherwood snippet view 1977. Christopher and his kind by christopher isherwood abebooks. A major figure in twentiethcentury fiction and the gay rights movement, he wrote more than twenty books. Christopher william isherwood was born in high lane, in rural cheshire, on aug. In november 1929, christopher isherwood determined to become a permanent foreigner packed a rucksack and two suitcases and left england on a oneway ticket for berlin. Christopher isherwoods most popular book is a single man. In christopher and his kind 1976, he returned to the 1930s to tell, as a publicly avowed homosexual, the real story of his life in berlin and his wanderings with heinz neddermeyer. Christopher isherwood, angloamerican novelist and playwright best known for his novels about berlin in the early 1930s. Christopher and his kind covers the most memorable ten years in the writers lifefrom 1929, when isherwood left england to spend a week in berlin and decided to stay there indefinitely, to 1939, when he arrived in america. Christopher and his kind, 19291939 book by christopher isherwood. The book revealingly contrasts fact with fictionthe real people isherwood met in germany with the.
Christopher and his kind by christopher isherwood and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Grey cloth, faded at the far edges, with silver gilt lettering on the spine. Christopher and his kind 1929 1939 by isherwood christopher. Inspired by christopher isherwood s 1976 autobiography of the same name christopher and his kind accomplishes its greatest challenge in depicting the events and sights that would eventually inspire 1972s cabaret, without actually imitating or reiterating the iconic oscarwinner. Looking for christopher isherwoods berlin the new york. Nov 01, 2012 isherwood s candid memoir of his life in 1930s berlin. Christopher and his kind covers the most memorable ten years in the writers life from 1929, when isherwood left england to spend a week in berlin and decided to stay there indefinitely, to 1939, when he arrived in america. Christopher and his kind has 8 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Christopher isherwood was a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, autobiographer and diarist. Christopher and his kind 19291939 christopher isherwood. His life in berlin from 1929 to 1933 inspired the berlin stories, which were adapted into a play, a film, and the musical cabaret.
Christopher isherwood s most popular book is a single man. Christopher isherwood 19041986 was born outside of manchester, england. Christopher and his kind by christopher isherwood penguin books. Christopher and his kind by christopher isherwood biz books. Christopher and his kind on the spectator its not often that one can recommend a biography of a writer as long as this, particularly since isherwood. Buy a cheap copy of christopher and his kind, 19291939 book by christopher isherwood.
A seminal book of gay liberation which made him the grand old man of the movement. But on the first page of christopher and his kind, he tells us that he wasnt completely honest in these earlier works, that he left out important details about himself, and that he now intends to, um, set the record straight. The neighborhood, in the days when isherwood was giving english lessons and writing wry, detached stories in a front room of his apartment, was a thriving center of gay life, and remains so. Sep 18, 2001 originally published in 1976, christopher and his kind covers the most memorable ten years in the writers life from 1929, when isherwood left england to spend a week in berlin and decided to stay there indefinitely, to 1939, when he arrived in america. While many of us found much of the writing very exact and extremely satisfying at times, many also found it to go on and on and on at other times. Christopher and his kind, 19291939 christopher isherwood. Nov 01, 2012 at the december 2007 meeting of the nyc lgbt center book discussion group, we read and discussed christopher and his kind by christopher isherwood. Christopher isherwood wrote several books about his experiences in the 1930s, including his berlin stories. Christopher isherwood page 2 of 3 books the guardian. A memoir, 19291939 fsg classics isherwood, christopher on.
An indispensable memoir by one of the most prominent writers of his generation. Books by christopher isherwood author of a single man. Christopher isherwoods liberation books the guardian. Christopher and his kind is written with the lucidity, the intelligence, and the wit that we have come to expect from isherwood at his best new statesman christopher isherwood is back in vogue independent. Christopher isherwood books list of books by author. Christopher and his kind, 19291939 by isherwood, christopher and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. In kathleen and frank 1971, he drew on the letters and diaries of his parents to explore the mythology of his family background. The film, adapted by kevin elyot from isherwood s autobiography christopher and his kind, was produced by mammoth screen and directed by geoffrey sax. See all books authored by christopher isherwood, including a single man, and the berlin stories.
Based on his and others diaries of the 1930s christopher isherwood narrates his experiences of the time in europe as the nazis rise to power in germany. His father, who had studied at cambridge university, was a professional soldier and member of the york and lancaster regiment, and had died in the first world war. Christopher and his kind by christopher isherwood waterstones. Christopher isherwood has 100 books on goodreads with 147040 ratings. Mr norris changes trains goodbye to berlin, and more on. An indispensable memoir by one of the most prominent writers of his generation originally published in 1976, christopher and his kind covers the most memorable ten years in the writers lifefrom 1928, when christopher isherwood left england to spend a week in berlin and decided to stay there indefinitely, to 1939, when he arrived in america. Christopher and his kind is a 2011 bbc television film. Christopher and his kind by christopher isherwood librarything. Christopher isherwood was born christopher william bradshaw isherwood on his familys estate in cheshire on august 26, 1904. Christopher isherwood was an angloamerican novelist, playwright, screenwriter, autobiographer, and diarist.
Originally published in 1976, christopher and his kind covers the most memorable ten years in the writers lifefrom 1929, when isherwood left england to spend a. His father was killed in world war i, becoming to his. After working as a secretary and a private tutor, isherwood gained a measure of coterie recognition with his first two novels, all the conspirators 1928 and the memorial. An indispensable memoir by one of the most prominent writers of his generation originally published in 1976. When the book was published in 1976, readers were deeply impressed by the courageous candor with which he describes his life in gay berlin of the 1930s and his struggles to save his companion, heinz, from the nazis. His bestknown works include goodbye to berlin 1939, a semiautobiographical novel which inspired the musical cabaret, a single man 1964 adapted as a film by tom ford in 2009, and christopher and his kind 1976, a memoir which carried him into. Christopher isherwood audio books, best sellers, author bio. Inscribed by isherwood and with a handwritten and signed postcard to the inscribee. Christopher and his kind book by christopher isherwood 8. An engrossing and dramatic story and a fascinating glimpse into a littleknown world, christopher and his kind remains one of isherwood s greatest achievements.
Buy christopher and his kind university of minnesota press ed by isherwood, christopher isbn. Christopher isherwood 26 august 1904 4 january 1986 was an angloamerican novelist, playwright, screenwriter, autobiographer, and diarist. Norris changes trains, and goodbye to berlin, on which the musical cabaret was based, as well as works of nonfiction and biography. Originally published in 1976, christopher and his kind covers the most memorable ten years in the writers lifefrom 1929, when isherwood left england to spend a week in berlin and decided to stay there indefinitely, to 1939, when he arrived in america. Christopher and his kind christopher isherwood macmillan. When the book was published in 1976, readers were deeply impressed by the courageous candor with which he describes his life in gay berlin of the 1930s and his.
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