Keun sets the narrative during a short-lived and less known period in German history, The Golden Twenties. This period stuck between the aftermaths of the Great War and the emergence of fascism showcases the glamour of the Weimar-era. Berlin nightlife and theater scenes were pulsating with a society inclined towards exploring arts and liberal ideas. The superficiality and glamour of Weimar-era Berlin blossomed in the obliviousness of the imminent political shift as nationalism surged in the background. It is a tale that explores this glamorous life through a ‘material girl’ obsessed with fame, the celebrity social scene, and sexual freedom. Thus, it was not long until Keun’s novel was banned by the Nazi censorship board shortly after its publication for its liberal ideas.
The resurgence of the novel ascertains the resonance that the narrative and its themes has with the subsequent generations. The story follows Doris a materialistic young woman with the dream of becoming a star and celebrity in Berlin. Her escapades are fueled by her unwarranted optimism, naiveté, limited options, and her desire for a lavish lifestyle. However, her desires do not align with her skills or the work ethic that she is supposed to display to reap the rewards. Subsequently, she resorts to common thievery, manipulation, and promiscuity to earn money to finance her materialism. As her dream of being a movie star becomes more of a pipe dream, she delves deeper into transactional sexual affairs and drug abuse. She seduces wealthy and influential men to climb up the social hierarchy which attests to the male-female power dynamic of the era. It is a tale about the pursuit of happiness, desire for glamour and fame, and subsequently the costly price to attain it.
Nevertheless, it is not a tragic story, it is hopeful since the protagonist is portrayed as more than just a superficial girl. It explores the journey of a young woman rejecting the societal constraints of domesticity and marriage. Moreover, it expresses the nature of female desire and sexual freedom in an era that such notions were outlandish. The protagonist is not necessarily an embodiment of a feminist for she is a product of the patriarchal environment. Her choices conflict when she tries to emancipate herself by falling into the same trappings of sexism. Thus, through this Keun makes a commentary on the social and political spheres of the time despite the limited political discourse.
