- Wonderful, Wonderful Times
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Wonderful, Wonderful Times (German: Die Ausgesperrten) is a novel by Nobel Prize winner Elfriede Jelinek, published in 1980 by Rowohlt Verlag. It was Jelinek's fifth book. An English version, translated by Michael Hulse, was released in 1990 by Serpent's Tail. A film adaptation of the novel was released in 1982.
The novel follows a group of four Viennese teens during the 1950s as they violently engage with the previous generation's Post-World War II legacy. The novel does not use traditional chapter demarcations and focuses largely on the internal thoughts of the characters.
The book also forms the basis of a 1982 made-for-television film.
Contents
Characters
Major characters
- Rainer Maria Witkowski: The 18-year-old protagonist of the book. He is a gymnasium student and the twin of Anna Witkowski.
- Anna Witkowski: The 18-year-old twin of Rainer Witkowski. She is also a gymnasium student and a pianist.
- Hans Sepp: A 20-something mechanic.
- Sophie Pachhofen: An 18-year-old rich, athletic gymnasium student.
Minor characters
- Otto Witkowski: The father of Anna and Rainer, once a SS officer and now an amputee.
- Margarethe Witkowski: The mother of Anna and Rainer.
- Ms. Sepp: The mother of Hans and a fervent Communist.
- Gerhard Schweiger: A gymnasium student with Anna, Rainer, and Sophie.
External Links
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