The Silesian Tetralogy (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Horst Bienek
- Type of Work: Novels
- Type of Plot: Realism
- Time of Work: 1939-1945
- Setting: Gleiwitz, Upper Silesia, and Dresden and Berlin, Germany
- Genres: Long fiction, Domestic realism
- Subjects: World War II, Jews or Jewish life, Anti-Semitism, Funeral rites or ceremonies, Nazism or Nazis, Weddings, Germany or German people, Eastern Europe or eastern Europeans, Holocaust, Jewish, Poland or Polish people, Concentration camps, Berlin
- Locales: Berlin, Germany, Dresden, Germany, Gleiwitz, Germany
Characters Discussed
The First Polka, 1975
Irma Piontek (pee-ON-tehk), the daughter of Valeska and Leo Piontek. She marries a German soldier, whom she had met a few days before, in a civil ceremony. The reception is held in the most exclusive hotel in town.
Leo Maria Piontek, a photographer, husband of Valeska, and father of Irma and Josel. Spurning commercial success, he has concentrated his work on photographing old castles and other landmarks. He also produced anti-Nazi political leaflets. He dies after returning home from the reception.
Josel...
[The entire page is 900 words long]
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