Goodbye Heiko, Goodbye Berlin (Leb Wohl Heiko, Leb Wohl Berlin) - Hardcover

Levy, Owen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1634907345 ISBN 13: 9781634907347

Publisher: Booklocker.com, 2015

Synopsis

A bittersweet gay romance narrated by an African-American expatriate landing in West Berlin as Cold War tensions ease and the infamous Berlin Wall soon to fall. His infatuation with East Berlin wunderkind Heiko Heinz precipitates an emotional journey of self-discovery. Heiko's own self-reinvention parallels the dramatic changes Germany undergoes in the swiftest political and socioeconomic transition recorded in modern times. The first original English-language novel depicting the East Berlin cultural underground and the thriving gay scenes on both sides of The Wall.

About this title

About the Author

American-born author Owen Levy's long awaited second novel set in Cold War Germany, Goodbye Heiko, Goodbye Berlin, debuted December 2015. It's been nearly 35 years since Levy's well-received best-selling gay-oriented novel A Brother's Touch published in 1982.

  
Now with little fanfare Levy took advantage of modern publishing platforms to debut Goodbye Heiko, Goodbye Berlin. His astonishing saga is set in Cold War Berlin before and after German Reunification.  As resident "Auslander" or foreigner Levy witnessed the near overnight 'Wende' or 'change-over'. 

His insider's view reveals seldom described alternative lifestyles and a cultural underground that existed in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) even under the grip of Soviet domination.

Goodbye Heiko, Goodbye Berlin's candid assessment is sure to generate discussion, even controversy. The title echoes Christopher Isherwood's celebrated 1930's Berlin story-collections. 

Levy's sprawling account of a gender-bending East Berlin wunderkind Heiko Heinz's rise to prominence is narrated by an African-American he befriends, an expatriate who is unable to shake an overwhelming infatuation. Their intertwining fates parallel Germany's unprecedented rebuilding and reinvention.
 
A German publisher is being sought to organize and issue a translated edition.

From the Inside Flap

Before The Fall

"All right," I relented. "What makes tonight really special for me?"

Heiko's grey-blue eyes brightened.

"The chance to hear you play-makes me feel part of something secret, forbidden--the East Berlin underground music scene. I mean like how cool is that! Even better you're someone I feel a real connection. Can't wait to see what else you can do."

Ignited with boyish enthusiasm he declared, "Yes I do many things! One day I'm going to do something really great. Make a name East and West!"

His eruption into megalomania was surprising and seductive.The raw determination in his eyes incredibly sexy. Momentarily the Wall didn't exist. Clearly Heiko's drop dead looks and charisma would attract supporters to achieve whatever he wants. Only luck and timing mattered.

Casually throwing both arms around me in spontaneous embrace caught me off-guard.

This piece of dark chocolate started melting.

Edition details

• Publisher: Booklocker.com
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1634907345
• ISBN 13: 9781634907347
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 298