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Title: Biedermann und die Brandstifter by Max Frisch, Paul Kurt Ackermann ISBN: 0-395-04090-6 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 01 January, 1900 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.56

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Average Customer Rating: 4.33 (3 reviews)

Rating: 4
Summary: Biedermann and the Arsonists
Comment: This play is about a man who harbors arsonists in his home. He believes that by becoming friends with them, he can protect his home, and they also have a secret to blackmail him with. All in all, this is a cleverly writen play which not only humorously tells the story about Biedermann but it also gives insights into Max Frisch's thoughts about the rise and fall of Nazism. I would recommend this to all intermediate German readers as it is an interesting play and an interesting comment on life.

Rating: 5
Summary: serious allegory disguised as humor
Comment: Sorry for writing in English, but my German isn't too good.

"Biedermann und die Brandstifer" translates as Biedermann and the Arsonists, more or less. It's the story of a stupid, rich company owner named Biedermann, who lives with his wife and a maid. He is worried about arsonists, but when a large, strange man appears at his door, and both terrifies and flatters him, he lets him stay, though the man seems suspiciously like an arsonist.

This continues; soon more people are staying at the Biedermanns' house. The police come to investigate, but Biedermann turns them away. He's afraid the police won't just arrest the arsonists, but will also arrest him, because he became rich using another man's formula. So he is complicit, and pretends the arsonists aren't really arsonists. He hopes if he flatters and feeds them, they'll leave without burning his house.

There are three arsonists: a common man, a man from the upper middle class, and an intellectual, who later distances himself from the others. He wanted to burn things to make way for a better world, but they burn things simply because they like fire and sirens. The play is sort of an allegory about the rise of the Nazi Party. It's called "A Lehrstueck Ohne Lehre," or a teaching play without a lesson, because it says people never learn. Biedermann reads about arsonists in the newspaper, but doesn't learn how to keep them away from his house. People learn about the rise of hideous political parties, but then let others rise in their place.

But that all sounds depressing, and really the play is very funny. It uses a lot of techniques invented by Berthold Brecht, to keep you from emotionally identifying with the action on stage; you're supposed to think, instead. The characters talk directly to the audience, and there's a Greek chorus dressed as firemen. It's serious, but you don't notice that so much at first, because it's funny. I recommend this play very much, and would love to see it performed.

Rating: 4
Summary: Biedermann und die brandstifter
Comment: This is one of the classic german plays reflecting the circumstances which lead to the Nazi regime. it illustrades that "turning away" from problems and ignorance might ultimately result in desaster. its a very worthwhile lesson to be learned, espacially in a country which lacks the same kind of history as germany. its a strog meaasge to all people addicted to their own peace......