Sea View Has Me Again: Uwe Johnson in Sheerness

Uwe Johnson, a German post-war writer, moved to Sheerness, Kent in the 1970s. This is based on his letters to friends, accounts, and archival materials, revealing his life in Sheerness during the late 1970s.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 751 pages
\n Publication date: 08 December 2020
\n Publisher: Watkins Media
\n

The story of Uwe Johnson, one of Germany's greatest and most-influential post-war writers, and how he came to live and work in Sheerness, Kent, in the 1970s.

In 1974, a strange man called Charles arrived in the small town of Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. He could often be found sitting at the bar in the Napier Tavern, drinking beer and smoking Gaulloises while flicking through the Kent Evening Post. But who was this unlikely newcomer?

This Charles was, in actual fact, Uwe Johnson, one of the greatest and most-influential East German writers of the post-war period. But what quirk of Cold War history had caused him to end up in Sheerness, when his contemporaries had instead fled the DDR to Rome, New York, or West Berlin?

Drawn from Johnson's letters to his friends Max Frisch, Hannah Arendt, Christa Wolf, and others, as well as contemporary accounts and archival materials, this intriguing mix of literary and cultural history and memoir uncovers the last ten years of Johnson's life as it was in Sheerness, set against the backdrop of the social and cultural upheaval of the late 1970s.

Johnson's decision to move to Sheerness was influenced by a variety of factors. Firstly, he was drawn to the town's unique cultural landscape, which was a melting pot of different ethnic and cultural groups. He was also attracted by the town's proximity to the Kent coast, which offered him a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of Berlin and enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside.

However, Johnson's stay in Sheerness was not without its challenges. He struggled to find work in the town, and his German language skills were not widely appreciated by the local community. He also found it difficult to adapt to the different social and cultural norms of the town, which were quite different from those in Berlin.

Despite these challenges, Johnson managed to make a home for himself in Sheerness. He became a regular at the Napier Tavern, where he met a group of local artists and musicians who were fascinated by his stories and his unique perspective on the world. He also began to write regularly, using his experiences in Sheerness as inspiration for his work.

One of the most significant aspects of Johnson's time in Sheerness was his involvement in the local community. He became a member of the Sheerness Literary Society, which was a group of local writers and artists who met regularly to discuss their work and to share ideas. He also volunteered at the local library, where he helped to promote literature and culture in the town.

In addition to his literary and cultural activities, Johnson also became a keen advocate for social and political causes. He was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War and the nuclear arms race, and he was a strong supporter of the rights of workers and the oppressed. He also became involved in local politics, and he was elected to the Sheerness Town Council in 1976.

Johnson's time in Sheerness was not without its controversies. He was accused of being a communist by some members of the local community, who were not comfortable with his political views. He was also criticized for his drinking and smoking habits, which were seen as a symbol of his rebellious and anti-establishment attitude.

Despite these criticisms, Johnson remained a popular figure in Sheerness. He was known for his wit, his charm, and his ability to connect with people from all walks of life. He continued to write and to advocate for social and political causes until his death in 1988.

In conclusion, the story of Uwe Johnson's time in Sheerness is a fascinating and complex tale of a writer who found a new home in a small town on the Kent coast. His decision to move to Sheerness was influenced by a variety of factors, including his desire to escape the hustle and bustle of Berlin and his fascination with the town's unique cultural landscape. Despite the challenges he faced, Johnson managed to make a home for himself in Sheerness and to become a valuable member of the local community. His legacy continues to inspire and influence writers and artists around the world, and his story serves as a reminder of the power of literature and culture to transcend political and social boundaries.

\n Weight: 1304g\n
Dimension: 165 x 240 x 66 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781912248605\n
Edition number: New ed\n