The Reader by Bernhard Schlink (Book Analysis)

This practical and insightful reading guide offers a complete summary and analysis of The Reader by Bernhard Schlink. It provides a thorough exploration of the novel’s plot, characters and main themes, including in particular intergenerational trauma and the difficulty of coming to terms with the horrors of the past.  The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time.

This clear and detailed 27-page reading guide is structured as follows:

• Biography of Bernhard Schlink
• Presentation of The Reader
• Summary of The Reader
• Character study
  • Michael Berg
  • Hanna Schmitz
  • Michael’s father
  • Michael’s mother
  • Sophie
  • The young Jewish girl
• Analysis of The Reader
  • The next generation and the weight of the past
  • Hanna’s illiteracy

About The Reader

The Reader was first published in 1995. It is centred around the relationship between a young German man and an older woman who turns out to be a former SS guard. This short novel, written in a straightforward and sober style, explores the shame and incomprehension felt by the generation of Germans who lived through the two world wars and then had to come to terms with the atrocities committed in the name of their country.

The Reader has been translated into around 40 languages and was the first German novel to top the New York Times bestseller list. In 2008, it was adapted into an Oscar-winning film starring Kate Winslet and directed by Stephen Daldry.

About Bernhard Schlink

Bernhard Schlink is a contemporary Germany lawyer and writer. He is the author of numerous crime novels, including a trilogy of works which all feature the same protagonist, a detective named Gerhard Selb. However, he is best known for his 1995 novel The Reader, which achieved international success and picked up a number of literary prizes in multiple countries. Schlink currently divides his time between New York and Berlin.