“Preisendörfer’s book is a treasure trove that you want to quote from constantly.” (Die Zeit about Als Deutschland noch nicht Deutschland war. Reise in die Goethezeit)
After his bestseller Als Deutschland noch nicht Deutschland war. Reise in die Goethezeit in which the reader time-travelled to 18th century Germany, Bruno Preisendörfer now takes us back to the 16th century and peers over the shoulders of Martin Luther and his contemporaries; we witness not just their public activities but their everyday lives as well.
Together with Götz von Berlichingen, we ambush Nuremberg merchants and are besieged by Nurembergers in turn. We see, up close, the Fugger family at work in their office in Augsburg and get our hands dirty exploiting Venezuela with the Welsers. We get to know Albrecht Dürer as he paints, Hans Sachs writing poetry and Luther’s wife Katharina housekeeping – until we join her in fleeing from the plague in Wittenberg. We experience how laborious everyday activities are, from preparing meals to obtaining clothes. We join the ranks of clusters of mercenaries, rehearse rebelling with the farmers of Franconia and Thuringia, virtuously listen to preachers and live in fear of the last judgment.
An entertaining and insightful journey back in time.
