Die Blechtrommel

About “Die Blechtrommel”

Die Blechtrommel is a 1959 novel by Günter Grass, the first in his Danziger Trilogie. The story is told in the first person by Oskar Matzerath, a dwarf who uses his tin drum and a voice that can break glass. The novel follows Oskar from his childhood to his thirtieth birthday, exploring his family history and the events of his life. Oskar's growth is arrested, and he is seen as abnormal by the adult world. His perspective allows him to comment on the history of his times, particularly the events in Danzig, where he and the author lived. The novel is a mix of historical, time, picaresque, and coming-of-age elements. Oskar is wrongly accused of murder and sent to a mental hospital.