Godless Youth - Modern Classics 176

Godless Youth - Modern Classics 176 Book Description In Godless Youth, published in 1937, Ödön von Horváth describes the moral collapse caused by fascism through a group of teenagers. The title of the novel suggests that Nazi Germany was raised to obey; It refers to young people who have internalized racism, hatred and militarism. These soulless beings, who have no share of independent thought, empathy and civil courage, dream of glorious victory and heroism in war. The contrast between God and truth and the spirit of time and the lies it contains constitutes the main theme of the novel. The characters are divided into two groups: those who support the old order, in which the values of Christianity and humanism remain valid, and those who support the new National Socialist order. The teacher, who is in the first group and is the narrator of the novel, is an opportunist who is initially hesitant to defend his moral values for fear of losing his livelihood. He lost his faith in God during the First World War. However, over time, as he listens to the voice of his conscience and works for the truth to prevail, he finds God again. (From the Promotional Bulletin)