France (L'Arche), Greece (Kastaniotis)
This situation is typical of the Stories of Mr. Keuner: a simple, everyday question provokes a surprising, unusual answer.
These parabolic prose miniatures with their dialogic, dialectical structure and their subtle humour lend themselves perfectly to comic book adaptation. Nevertheless it is hardly surprising that no one has dared to...
»Mr. K. was asked what he was working on. Mr. K. replied: ›I’m terribly busy – I’m preparing my next mistake.‹«
This situation is typical of the Stories of Mr. Keuner: a simple, everyday question provokes a surprising, unusual answer.
These parabolic prose miniatures with their dialogic, dialectical structure and their subtle humour lend themselves perfectly to comic book adaptation. Nevertheless it is hardly surprising that no one has dared to tackle them until now: how can you translate mental images into drawn images? And how can you represent Bertolt Brecht’s playful alter ego Keuner, who exhibits unmistakably autobiographical traits but is nevertheless a man without qualities?
Now Ulf K., one of the most internationally renowned German comic artists, has risen to the challenge and delivered a resolutely timeless, modern Mr. K. who at the same time feels utterly contemporary. This bold, zesty adaptation gives the impression that Brecht has only just written these stories for us today and, together with Ulf K., has decided to give us this wonderful intellectual and aesthetic gift.
»Ulf K. is the poet of the German comics scene« Spiegel Online
»So close to Brecht and yet so independent. This Ulf K. seems to be the right man for the job.« Andreas Platthaus, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
»So close to Brecht and yet so independent. This Ulf K. seems to be the right man for the job.« Andreas Platthaus, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Persons
Ulf K.
Ulf K. was born in 1969 and lives in Düsseldorf. He draws comics, illustrates children’s books and works for magazines and in advertising. His work is defined by a minimal, clear abstract style inspired by the classic French »ligne claire«. His works have also been published internationally, in Spain, Portugal, France, Sweden and the USA.
Ulf K. was born in 1969 and lives in Düsseldorf. He draws comics, illustrates children’s books and works for magazines and in...
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was born on 10 February 1898 in Augsburg and died on 14 August 1956 in Berlin. From 1917 to 1918, he studied natural sciences, medicine, and literature at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. He was forced to interrupt his studies in 1918, however, after being drafted into military service as a medic at an Augsburg military hospital. Brecht began writing plays while still a student. From 1922, he worked as a dramaturge at the Munich Kammerspiele. From 1924 to 1926, he was director at Max Reinhardt's Deutsches Theater in Berlin. In 1933, as the Nazis rose to power, Brecht left Berlin with his family and friends and fled via Prague, Vienna, and Zurich to Denmark, later moving to Sweden, Finland, and the US. In addition to plays, Brecht also...
Bertolt Brecht was born on 10 February 1898 in Augsburg and died on 14 August 1956 in Berlin. From 1917 to 1918, he studied natural...
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Bertolt Brecht's Postil
France (L'Arche), Denmark (Multivers), Japan (Shobunsha)
Previously published in the respective language / territory; rights available again: Catalan rights (Adesiara), Italy (Einaudi), Korea (Moonhak Kwa Jisung)
»i’m learning: to wash glasses + cups«
i’m learning: to wash glasses + cups, sweep the floor, take out the rubbish, make scram-bled eggs and soups. i’m teaching myself. i feel very close to you when i’m washing glasses, which you have done for so long, among other things.«
The Brecht Archive was recently able to acquire the »Victor N. Cohen Brecht...
Refugee Conversations
The dialogues in Refugee Conversations, written in the early 1940s, deal with the everyday life of those expelled from Germany, represented by the intellectual Ziffel and the...
UK & Commonwealth (Methuen Drama), Brazilian Portuguese rights (Editora 34), France (L’Arche), Italy (L’Orma), Netherlands (Jurgen Maas), Japan (Shobunsha), Greece (Kritiki)
Previously published in the respective language / territory; rights available again: Spanish world rights (Edicusa), Denmark (Gyldendal), Sweden (Albert Bonniers), Norway (Aschehoug), Finland (Tammi), Poland (PIW), Czech Republic (Mladá Fronta), Estonia (Kirjastus Perioodika), Croatia (Zajednica Nijemaca u Hrvatskoj), Turkey (Er Tu Matbaasi), Iran (Ibtikar-i Nau), Israel (Schocken)