And Never Said a Word

First edition
(publ. Kiepenheuer & Witsch)

And Never Said a Word (German: Und sagte kein einziges Wort) is a novel by German author Heinrich Böll, published in 1953. The novel deals with the thoughts and actions of Fred and Käte Bogner, a married couple. Fred, feeling sick of the poverty of their house, has left her with their three children. They continue to meet on a casual basis every time Fred can find money enough to book a hotel room. As in numerous works from the German writer, the main theme is the situation in Germany after World War II.

The title stems from a song listened to by Käte in the fourth chapter, creating a parallel between her and Jesus; like Christ, she is shown bearing all humiliations without rebelling.

Works by Heinrich Böll

Novels	The Train Was on Time And Never Said a Word The Bread of Those Early Years Billiards at Half-Past Nine The Clown Group Portrait with Lady The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum The Safety Net

Short stories	"Murke's Collected Silences" "Anekdote zur Senkung der Arbeitsmoral" "Stranger, Bear Word to the Spartans We…"

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And Never Said a Word

See also