Ursula Hegi Boeken

Ursula Hegi grew up in Germany and moved to the United States at age eighteen. As she grew older and raised a family, questions about her roots and her native land haunted her until, at last, she felt compelled to write about them. Tearing the Silence brings together her interviews with dozens of German-born Americans, and their confrontations with the taboo of the Holocaust.

From the acclaimed author of Floating in My Mother’s Palm and Children and Fire, a stunning story about ordinary people living in extraordinary times—“epic, daring, magnificent, the product of a defining and mesmerizing vision” (Los Angeles Times). Trudi Montag is a Zwerg—a dwarf—short, undesirable, different, the voice of anyone who has ever tried to fit in. Eventually she learns that being different is a secret that all humans share—from her mother who flees into madness, to her friend Georg whose parents pretend he’s a girl, to the Jews Trudi harbors in her cellar. Ursula Hegi brings us a timeless and unforgettable story in Trudi and a small town, weaving together a profound tapestry of emotional power, humanity, and truth.

Three people, friends since childhood. Two sets of lovers, betraying the other. One line, that shouldn't be crossed.

The bestselling author of "Stones from the River" breaks the silence which has haunted the lives of postwar German immigrants to tell the one story of the Holocaust readers have not been privy to--the legacy of shame and grief that shadows a people that can neither escape nor embrace its national heritage.

A moving account of Hanna Malter, a young girl growing up in a small town in Germany in the 1950s, a time when Adolf Hitler isn't mentioned in history classes--or by anyone in town.

Focusing on the immigrant experience in America, this companion novel explores the dreams and disappointments faced by newcomers as they navigate the challenges of assimilation. It delves into the generational bonds of love while also examining the cultural divides that can create rifts within families. Through rich storytelling, Hegi captures the complexities of identity and belonging in a diverse society.

Renowned for her storytelling, the author presents her first major collection of short stories in over ten years, showcasing her exceptional talent. This new compilation features a variety of narratives that highlight her unique voice and ability to capture the complexities of human experience, reaffirming her status as a leading figure in contemporary literature.

Exploring the complexities of love in its various forms, this collection delves into familial, parental, and romantic relationships. Ursula Hegi employs compassionate storytelling and vivid language to illuminate her characters' struggles, allowing them to confront and rise above despair. The narratives reflect on themes of life and death, youth and age, and the contrast between achieved aspirations and unexpected joys, offering a profound examination of the human experience in its most impactful moments.

Brilliantly stretching literary conventions, Ursula Hegi, author of the best-selling Stones from the River, creates a funny and original novel within a novel to explore the doubts, decisions, and "might-have-beens" that mark not only the writing process but life itself. As her "author" and her fictional heroine deal with their intrusions into each other's lives, Hegi reveals much about the choices women make, the ambiguities they face, and the often surprising ways reality and fiction merge.