What was Beautiful and Good: A novel about the origins of the Dada art movement - Softcover

Blocker, Jill

Softcover

ISBN 13: 9798992742213

Publisher: Constellate Publishing, 2026

Synopsis

"You HAVE to know this 'century woman'..." -BLICK.ch

"Wonderfully written. The book gives new zest for life, a lot of hope and strength in this new 'war time, ' where old men are once again trying to destroy the world." -PBW Klemann, author

In the midst of chaos and destruction, a young singer fights to find her voice. "What was Beautiful and Good" is an enthralling novel based on a true story, weaving together history, art, and a tale of resilience.

Emmy Hennings, a free-spirited artist, revels in the beauty and excitement of Europe's most captivating cities. But when the First World War shatters her world, Emmy's life takes an unexpected tum. Unable to perform and separated from her friends who are drafted into the military, she finds herself imprisoned for trivial offenses and branded unpatriotic.

As despair threatens to consume her, Emmy's fate takes a hopeful twist when a young man named Hugo Ball proposes an escape to Switzerland. In this sanctuary of peace, they discover a vibrant community, but surviving as a refugee comes with its own challenges.

Driven to find purpose amidst the chaos, this remarkable novel transports readers to a turbulent era where art becomes a beacon of hope, defying the darkness of war and igniting a global artistic revolution named "Dada" that will remind generations to come of the true meaning behind what is beautiful and good.

This second edition of the novel is a tribute to the 110th anniversary of the Cabaret Voltaire and the Dada art movement.

About this title

About the Author

Jill Blocker is a novelist and former journalist whose work has been featured across international media outlets. She is the author of the literary, historical fiction novel "What was Beautiful and Good," ("Was schön war und gut"), and her writing has been featured on The Daily Show, The Washington Post, The Star Press, The Guardian, the SeattlePI, KOMO4 News, MAINTENANT: A Journal of Contemporary Dada Writing and Art, and others.Her debut novel, "What was Beautiful and Good," (2023, 2026) was an Amazon #1 Bestseller and received international recognition for its lyrical prose and historical accuracy. It was long-listed for the BookLife Prize and HOTLIST 2024, in the category of "Literarur aus anderen sprachen," honouring independent publications contributing to the richness, quality and success of German-language literary culture. It was also nominated for the Schweizer Büchersalon 2024 in Berlin by the Swiss Publishers' Association.Jill studied creative writing through Stanford University and received a degree in journalism from Ball State University. Originally from the U.S., she currently resides in Zürich, Switzerland, but considers herself a citizen of the world

From the Inside Flap

Dada: A Deffinition
Dada /'da: da:/ noun
Dada (also known as Dadaism)
An early 20th-century movement in art, literature, mu- sic, and film that challenged traditional norms by embracing works of nonsense.
— Adapted from Oxford English Dictionary and Encyclopaedia Britannica

Edition details

• Publisher: Constellate Publishing
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 13: 9798992742213
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 290