Berlin Alexanderplatz: The Story of Franz Biberkopf by Alfred Döblin

it goes about this way, you see, but it goes a li’l bit sideways, too.”
    The stout fellow threw his head back and laughed, stretched out his arms, fell around the red-haired man’s neck: “You sure can tell stories, that man can tell stories. Franz has had his own experiences. Franz knows life. Franz knows who he is.” “I just wanted to tell you, you sang very sadly there for a while.” “For a while, for a while. Well, let bygones be bygones. Now my vest’s filled out again. Folks, everything’s goin’ fine! Ain’t nobody can come near me. Bye-bye, and when I get married, you’ll be there.”
    Thus Franz Biberkopf, the concrete-worker, and later furniture-mover, that rough, uncouth man of repulsive aspect, returned to Berlin and to the street, the man at whose head a pretty girl from a locksmith’s family had thrown herself, a girl whom he then made into a whore, and at last mortally injured in a scuffle. He has sworn to all the world and to himself to remain respectable. And as long as he had money, he remained respectable. Later, however, his money gave our: and that was the moment he had been waiting for, to show everybody, once and for all what a real fellow is like.
    SECOND BOOK
    And thus we have brought our man safely to Berlin. He has made his vow, and the question is: Hadn’t we better simply stop here? The end seems amiable and without artifice, almost a fitting end, and the whole has the great advantage of brevity.
    But this is no ordinary man, this Franz Biberkopf. I did not call him here for sport, but to share his hard, true, and enlightening existence. Franz Biberkopf is badly burnt. He now stands safe and sound contentedly on Berlin ground, and if he says he wants to be good, we can believe him, he will be good. You’re going to see how he stayed decent for many a week, but it’s only a respite, so to speak.
    Once upon a time there lived in Paradise two human beings, Adam and Eve. They had been put there by the Lord, who had also created the beasts and plants and heaven and earth. And Paradise was the wonderful garden of Eden. Flowers and trees were growing there, animals were playing about, and none oppressed the other. The sun rose and set, the moon did the same, there was abiding joy the whole day long in Paradise.
    Thus let us start off merrily. We want to sing and move about: with our little hands going clap, clap, clap, our little feet going tap, tap, tap, moving to, moving fro, roundabout, and away we go.
    Franz Biberkopf Enters
    BERLIN
    Notice of a scheme regarding the building lot situate An der Spandauer Brucke No. 10.
    The scheme for the permanent restriction of the building lot situate in the Communal District of Berlin Center due to the addition of an ornamental rosette to the street wall of No. 10 An der Spandauer Brücke is hereby published, together with a sketch plan, for public inspection. During this time all parties concerned may file any objections to the scheme, within the extent of their interests. The municipal authorities of the communal district are also authorized to state their objections, if any. Such objections should be made in writing to the District Office Center, Berlin C 2, Klosterstrasse 68, Room 76, or be made orally before the Registrar.
    - I have granted to Herr Bottich, hunting lessee, with the consent of the Police President, authority, liable to cancellation at any time, for the shooting of wild rabbits and other vermin in the area of the Faule Seepark on the following days in the year 1928: Shooting must cease in summer, from April 1st to September 30th, by 7 p.m., in winter, from October 1st to March 31st, by 8 p.m. The public are hereby notified of this permit, and are warned against entering the said area during the shooting time fixed hereby. The Chief Burgomaster, Controller of Hunting Licenses.
    - Albert Pangel, master furrier, who may look back upon an activity of almost three years as honorary official, has resigned his honorary office