Abstract
German literature is said to be difficult to read and to be overly intellectual. The international literary markets also adhere to these prejudices. But obviously there exist several exceptions: Some books do not only succeed as national bestsellers, they also seem to gain international achievements, like for example Patrick Süskind’s Das Parfum, Bernhard Schlink’s Der Vorleser und Daniel Kehlmann’s Die Vermessung der Welt. The dissertation analyses how these exceptions emerge by elaborating a net of factors that influence the success of a book. Firstly, there are the author and his or her personality and the text itself. Being integrated in the literary market and influenced by various social, cultural and political issues the publishing house has an effect on the success, and vice versa. Secondly, the media in terms of book reviews, but also newspapers, magazines and journal reports, and TV programmes has an impact on the success. In the dissertation also other factors like films and audio books are integrated in the analyses. All these aspects are considered in Part One, the theoretical section of this dissertation, as a complex net of influencing factors that requires a certain amount for a book to be classifiable as a bestseller.On the basis of the theoretical considerations outlined in Part One, Part Two analyzes three books, all of which are bestsellers in Germany. The analyses confirm that these factors of influence generate vastly different impact outcomes for each of the three books.
A short final section is dedicated to comparing three impact/influence trajectories of these three bestsellers as well as their international marketing; it is noted that the label “international bestseller”, as used by many German critics, does not necessarily imply a high international sales success.
| Date of Award | 2018 |
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| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisor | Robert Weninger (Supervisor) |