There are no working-class memoirs about being part of Britain's occupation force in Germany's second-largest city Hamburg, apart from my dad's Love Among the Ruins.
Besides the brilliant observations about the inherent misery of war I am always fascinated to read about Hamburg from your dad's perspective. I am currently living in Hamburg and both the differences (sure, I knew that Altona started as working class, however it has a very different population now) and the things that never change (the summer days' run to the expensive cafes in Blankenese) make me reflect on how the face of a place can change both with macro-events like the war and with the littlest, subtlest changes brought about by so many individuals...and of course it's beautiful to read about the budding love between your parents.
It's a wonderful city even if it's not without its ugliest sides. Gentrification runs wild through its streets, housing costs are out of control and the original population of left leaning harbour workers gets more and more replaced by businessmen who just want to build the next couple of luxury condos. Still, I found my "nook" here years ago and I'll keep it as long as I can.
Besides the brilliant observations about the inherent misery of war I am always fascinated to read about Hamburg from your dad's perspective. I am currently living in Hamburg and both the differences (sure, I knew that Altona started as working class, however it has a very different population now) and the things that never change (the summer days' run to the expensive cafes in Blankenese) make me reflect on how the face of a place can change both with macro-events like the war and with the littlest, subtlest changes brought about by so many individuals...and of course it's beautiful to read about the budding love between your parents.
It's wonderful that you are living in Hamburg. It was a city that was forever in the blood of my parents.
It's a wonderful city even if it's not without its ugliest sides. Gentrification runs wild through its streets, housing costs are out of control and the original population of left leaning harbour workers gets more and more replaced by businessmen who just want to build the next couple of luxury condos. Still, I found my "nook" here years ago and I'll keep it as long as I can.
illuminating
My Uncle filled me in as well after the War. Thank you for your moment in time.