was Siegfried Lenz’s first novel. Published in 1951, it shows his emerging narrative talent. The reader perceives early signs of Lenz’s narrative mastery -- artistic quality, fine powers of observation, a critical view, clarity, vividness, a graphic style, uncompromising directness, and unsparing openness. The novel is a multi-perspective narrative -- it is not restricted to just one main character’s point of view and the attention shifts between different male and female characters. The third-person narrator does not show particular sympathy for any one character in the novel; he neither judges nor condemns their actions and reflections. Since the storytelling position is neutral, it is up to the reader to evaluate the storyline.
The plot is complex,
1217 words
Citation: Schweissinger, Marc J.. "Es waren Habichte in der Luft". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 16 January 2018 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=38820, accessed 03 December 2024.]
