When his debut novel "Himmelssturz" appeared in 2002, the critics spontaneously celebrated Gregor Hens' book as "a masterly work of art on the transience of love". The "Literary World" even named the work "the debut of the year". Hens, who was born in Cologne in 1965 and now lives in Berlin, had then chosen the USA as the narrative background for his novel. He had spent much of his life in America's Midwest.

His book unrolled the story of a college professor whose relationship with a bustling art dealer is rocking as a young woman enters his life. "Himmelssturz" gave rise to great literary hopes - but none of the books following the years brought Hens the breakthrough expected by many. Not the immaculate German-American history collection "Transfer Lounge" from 2003. Not the novel "In this new light" (2006). And not even the 2011 published, translated into various languages ​​volume "nicotine".

Built smart

This astonishes, is here but a classic-realistic narrator at work, whose books sprawl with everything, which makes up for salable literature: smartly built, their readers sometimes unabashedly reaching for the heart stories. This plastically drawn characters that you can spontaneously imagine on the big screen.

So Hens now returns to America with his new novel, 17 years after his much-lauded debut. There where once everything started for him. And there are many indications that he was finally able to make the big hit. Because "Missouri" may be called his ripest and undoubtedly best book.

In it he spreads the perceptibly autobiographically motivated story of the young assistant teacher Karl, who - just as his creator once did before him - left Germany at the age of 23 to lead a more intensive life in the USA than he could Home Cologne so far could offer. And when he meets the charismatic student Stella in Missouri, with whom he begins a love affair, the new US existence suddenly makes sense for Karl.

Milena Schloesser

Author Gregor Hens: very convincing

Gripping Gregor Hens unpacks his second American love story. And for a long time, the luck between the German and the very special abilities of the young American woman seems untouchable. Until Karl stands in the hills of Missouri Stella's mother Janet - and over his relationship with Stella off balance. Janet entangles Karl in an erotic game. "What did she want from me, did I do anything to encourage her behavior, could there be a grotesque temptation?"

For a while, Karl still manages to escape Janet's advances. Until he finally gives in - and loses Stella. "She had taken what she wanted to take, she had forced and seduced me, the friend of her own daughter, there was only one possibility: disappearance."

Price query time:
21.04.2019, 15:30 clock
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Gregory Hens
Missouri: novel

Publishing company:

Aufbau Verlag

Pages:

284

Price:

EUR 22,00

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Karl flees to Berkeley, where he takes up a new position at the local university - and the connection to Stella finally dissolves. Sovereign Hens keeps his stuff from slipping into the too-emotional or merely veiled Epigonale. Because the story of the young man who loves the daughter and in the end cheats with his mother, is in itself - and since at least since Mike Nichols canvas classic "The Reifeprüfung" from the year 1967 mined area.

But by enhancing his material to the story of a comprehensively raised doubt, Hens wins something new from her. So "Missouri" tells of people who each try to save themselves in his own way: Karl, who has reached his limits emotionally and disappears. Like Janet, who tries to forget the failure of her marriage in the liaison with him. And Stella, who quickly dives into a new relationship, will remain trapped in her memories for a long time.

In the end, the first-person narrator takes refuge in this compelling novel in the description of his story in order to distance himself from it. This is not new from a literary point of view - but in its psychological accuracy it is very convincing.