Hörbuch: Christiane Hoffmann "Die Träume, die wir hatten"
Summary
This episode presents the audiobook "Die Träume, die wir hatten" by journalist Christiane Hoffmann, narrated by Martina Gedeck. The book explores the long prehistory of the Ukraine war through Hoffmann’s personal lens, intertwining her failed dreams of a democratic Russia with the loss of a close friend. Set against the backdrop of the 1980s and 90s, the narrative reflects on Soviet-era experiences and the complex relationship between Germany and Russia. It serves as a moving meditation on grief, missed opportunities, and the enduring pain of witnessing the conflict unfold.
Topics discussed
Introduction to the audiobook and author Christiane Hoffmann
Overview of the book's theme: grief and missed opportunities
The dual pain of a friend's death and the war in Ukraine
1980s: Studying Slavic literature and the rise of interest in Russia
Life in Leningrad: Observations of the late Soviet era
The 1990s: The fall of the Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall
Balanced perspective on Russia and the Ukraine conflict
The interplay of private and political history in the narrative
Publication details and audiobook availability
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