The Wall
The original novel was published in 1962. Translated into English by Shaun Whiteside.
First published to acclaim in Germany, The Wall chronicles the life of the last surviving human on earth, an ordinary middle-aged woman who awakens one morning to find that everyone else has vanished. Assuming her isolation to be the result of a military experiment gone awry, she begins the terrifying work of survival and self-renewal. This novel is at once a simple and moving tale and a disturbing meditation on humanity.
Readers also enjoyed
Marlen Haushofer
Marlen Haushofer (1920—1970) was an Austrian author, most famous for her only novel translated into English, The Wall.
Reviews and Comments
A woman visiting a hunting lodge in an Alpine valley finds herself isolated within a transparent wall surrounding the valley, along with a few animals. Those on the outside appear to be dead. This descriptive, leisurely-paced work, rich in the repetition of everyday life, touches the heart throughout. I am grateful for the author’s narrative choices, which helped a more sensitive reader like me make it all the way to the end. An impressive classic. This book left a lasting impression. Highly recommended.