FOREIGN HANSER RIGHTS - Hanser Literaturverlage

FOREIGN
HANSER
RIGHTS
G E N D E R STU D I E S
They were beautiful, famous and successful - and they projected a radical new
image of womanhood.
Ineffably feminine, fiercely independent, stunningly beautiful and in love with success: the
archetype young women aspire to today was invented by two Berlin movie stars between the
world wars.
Berlin 1918: Germany’s imperial period is in decline, the country shattered by defeat. In this
unlikely setting, two women who will only ever meet in passing share the same dream of
success. Marlene Dietrich and Leni Riefenstahl sense that their moment has come with the
dawning of a new age. They want to go on stage and into the movies – and because they are
good looking, smart, clever tacticians and good dancers into the bargain, success is not long
in coming. Without role models or fixed ideas, they nonetheless have an unerring instinct for
presenting themselves as modern women, and the rapid expansion of the film industry and
mass media provides the perfect breeding ground for their talents to prosper. With the ascent
of the Third Reich, Hitler is only too well aware that the public craves idols, and Leni Riefenstahl
gives him exactly what he needs. Meanwhile, Marlene Dietrich escapes to Hollywood
where she rises to international stardom.
Karin Wieland presents a surprising new perspective on 20th century culture and society.
Not only does she make it clear why Dietrich and Riefenstahl have lost none of their fascination
to this day, but also that young women leading independent and successful lives as
a matter of course owe far more than they realise to these two interwar lifestyle icons.
Karin Wieland
was born in 1958. She studied political science at the Berlin Free University. She is a full
time author and lives near Berlin. Her book Die Geliebte des Duce (Das Leben der
Margherita Sarfatti und die Erfindung des Faschismus) was published by Hanser in 2004.
Sales to Foreign Countries
Die Geliebte des Duce: Italy (Utet)
Karin Wieland
Dietrich & Riefenstahl. Der Traum von
der neuen Frau
Dietrich & Riefenstahl: The Invention of
the Modern Woman
632 pages with illustrations. Hardcover
Publication date: September 26, 2011