Gunter Grass Admits to Serving in Hitler's Waffen SS

[Peter E. Zelz]

	The Tin Drum is my favorite, but Dog Years and Cat and Mouse aren't far
behind.  The Flounder is right up there, too.  And, ditto, if the guy
has/had a problem in dealing with a particular aspect of his past (and
which of us hasn't?) it should be no reflection on his reputation as a
writer or on his comments regarding his feelings about the period.  Imagine
the weight the bugger's been carrying around all these years.
	I enjoyed Tin Drum, The Movie but was sorta frustrated that it cut off
about two-thirds of the way through the novel.  I particularly enjoyed the
bits in the book about working in a cemetery (always having had a
particular appreciation for bone yards) and the nun's finger.
	On a totally self indulgent note:  Any of you folks out there in Pynchon-l
land have any suggestions on how I might get the man to autograph my copy
of The Tin Drum?  That book, and its author, have particular resonance for
me.  My Dad was born a couple years before Grass, but on this side of the
ocean to immigrant parents.  And, my Zelz ancestors lived in Danzig and, I
fancy, crossed paths with the author's ancestors in their regular comings
and goings.  Responses to this last bit would probably best be handled
off-list.

Cheers,
z



> [Original Message]
> From: jd <wescac at gmail.com>
> To: David Meury <dmeury at yahoo.com>
> Cc: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> Date: 8/14/2006 17:16:58
> Subject: Re: Gunter Grass Admits to Serving in Hitler's Waffen SS
>
> The movie version of The Tin Drum is one of my favorite book to movie
> adaptations...  I don't think that his reputation as a writer can be
> denied due to his service in the SS, it's either good writing or it's
> not... I've only read The Tin Drum, but I'll say that that is good
> writing (and certainly not pro-Nazi).  I think that it is easy to
> understand why he would be inclined to hide such things - if he hadn't
> said anything, would we not remain ignorant of the fact?  I don't
> think self-admission can really require the destruction of
> reputation...  though Otto, you do make a god point re: "conscious of
> a nation"... but on the other hand, having seen both sides, he might
> be wiser on certain subjects.
>
> I mean heck, the Pope was in the Hitler Youth.  If Grass had admitted
> this years ago, should he have been denied his voice even if it
> contained wisdom?  Should it be now?  I don't think so...
>
> On 8/14/06, David Meury <dmeury at yahoo.com> wrote:
> > Why that Schwanzlutscher!
> >
> > (Actually, I'm just trying out my new word for the day.)
> >
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