Because the completion of labour service was a precondition for permission to study at the university, I was able to begin my studies of Germanistics and Classical Philology during the summer term of 1939. Heinrich Boll beginclassicalcompletion share on social
As early as December 1945, I accompanied my wife and a few relatives in their return from evacuation in the countryside to Cologne, where over the years we settled down in a destroyed house. Heinrich Boll accompanycolognecountryside Change image and share on social
My most interesting correspondence is with my translators. I marvel at their sensitivity over certain passages that just anyone, even if he knows German well, would not appreciate. Heinrich Boll correspondencegermaninterest Change image and share on social
For me, at least, much of the German I see and hear sounds stranger than Swedish, a language of which I unfortunately understand very little. Heinrich Boll germanhearlanguage Change image and share on social
Between 1950 and 1951, I worked as a temporary employee in the Cologne Bureau of Statistics. From summer 1951 on, I have lived as a freelance writer with a fixed postal address in Cologne but with a continually shifting place of work. Heinrich Boll addressbureaucologne share on social
Humor is really one of the hardest things to define, very hard. And it's very ambiguous. You have it, or you don't. You can't attain it. Heinrich Boll ambiguousattaindefine Change image and share on social
Many writers are radical. I am not, because of my age and because of my terrible fear of demagogy. Heinrich Boll agedemagogyfear Change image and share on social
On a visit to Cologne in March 1945, after a heavy bombing, I met hundreds and hundreds of deserters who were squatting in the rubble, many in the deep cellars left from Roman times. They had been hiding there after the retreat from France. Heinrich Boll bombcellarcologne share on social
I will never forget the moment when I was liberated by the American Army. I will never forget those very young boys coming up the hill, who had to take me a prisoner to liberate me. Heinrich Boll americanarmyboy Change image and share on social
Medals don't suit me. I'm not that kind of guy. Heinrich Boll guykindmedal Change image and share on social
