The novel is split into sections, each written at different times and dealing with various characters. The vividness and believable way the characters are presented lends credence to the idea that he tasted that atmosphere, rather than smelt it from a distance. The thought that there may have been an interaction with a real Sally Bowles is tantalising, as is the idea that like his protagonist, Isherwood was hanging around in left-leaning café’s and bars during a period when these areas were at the forefront of German political thought, excitement and danger. It is unclear how much of the novel is based on experiences that actually happened to Isherwood during his time in Berlin, but it seems likely that he was well aware of and keen to document his surroundings from this period of his life. Even towards the end when Christopher is about to leave for England, he still smiles as he walks down his familiar streets on a pleasantly sunny day, showing the deep connection he has with the city.
Berlin is just as much of a character as Sally Bowles or Otto, always changing and evolving through different stages although whilst many of the characters come and go in various phases of favour within Isherwood’s narrative, Berlin seems almost to be like family, always loved no matter what state it is in. The obviously autobiographical element is clear to see, as the locations and often extraordinary characters are presented in fine detail, showing an awareness that can only come with being a good watcher. There is a terrific and widely quoted line on the opening page which reads ‘I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking’ (p.9), which is a fantastically effective way of describing Isherwood’s eponymous protagonist, and the way he handles himself throughout the novel.
The significant period between those days and now was needed in order to be able to approach these works without any form of remaining pre-conceived feelings, therefore allowing me to read and review this book as a separate piece of work, whilst still retaining the contextual knowledge so vital to the creation of the text. Although I have come back to a lot of the texts included in the reading list for this module since then, I admittedly found it difficult to enjoy and properly appreciate the books at the time. One of the many books left over from my University days that I have resisted the urge for some time to sit down and read, as it served to remind me of days when I was getting through far too many books in a short space of time as part of a module dealing with Literature and Politics in the 1930’s. This was my first experience of an Isherwood novel, and I can see why this text in its various published forms is so highly regarded.
Goodbye to Berlin – Christopher Isherwood – 1939 The Vintage edition cover is particularly evocative.
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