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Books by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
Die Physiker
by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
· published 1962 · read 2007-02-01
★★★★☆
Satirical stage play, in a Swiss asylum for the insane. The three inmates think they are Newton, Einstein and Moebius. Or so the initial story goes – there's much more to it than that. The murder mystery is just window dressing – the real questions are about ethics in science and the self-destructive tendencies of humanity, and are mostly informed by atom bombs and the cold war. It's dusty, dated – but still packs a punch though – never underestimate Dürrenmatt. He plays dirty and does it well.
Die Panne
by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
· published 1956 · read 2021-01-17
★★★★☆
Our protagonist has a breakdown and, because the village inn is full, is invited to stay in a local mansion. It turns out that his host is a retired judge, and together with his friends, a retired prosecutor and a retired attorney, they stage a mock-trial of their guest – all in good fun – of crimes yet to be named. The rest is very Dürrenmatt. Short and enjoyable, but always with an edge of unease.
Der Richter und sein Henker
by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
· published 1951 · read 2009-10-01
★★★★☆
Existentialist mystery, is maybe the best description of this book. Do not read if you're not in the mood for dark and dire. The aging detective may be staple, and even some of the plot twists may invite you to think that this is just another mystery, but it goes far beyond that, if you're willing to dive into the subtext.
The Visit
by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
· published 1956 · read 2009-01-01
★★★★☆
Dürrenmatt will always punch you in the face. This time he's talking about corruptability and the corruption brought about by wealth. It's the terrifying story of a man sold out by his entire community for the promise of wealth. It's about ethics and justice and avarice. I loved it. Seeing it on stage when I was 17 was transformative.
Der Verdacht
by Friedrich Dürrenmatt
· published 1952 · read 2006-11-01
★★★★☆
Detective Bärlach's second case concerns a surviving Nazi doctor. As always, it's not – in the end, at least – about bringing about official justice. Dürrenmatt doesn't much care for that, or trust in it, and looking at the publishing date, he was not wrong.