Books set in Berlin

Inks & Ironclad: Berlin’s Legacy Carved in Concrete.

Books about Berlin and novels set in Berlin unfold on every street: from gleaming academic libraries that cradle Grimm’s tales to lakeside writer retreats and silent cemeteries where poets rest. Stand beneath a statue of Schiller in a grand square, sip coffee in a salon that still buzzes with verse, or reflect at a glass-panel memorial to silenced pages. Travel through literature in Berlin and trace the footsteps of its most unforgettable authors.

Novels set in Berlin

Chloe Aridjis

Book of Clouds

Cover of Book of Clouds by Chloe Aridjis

A haunting and lyrical novel set in Berlin, told against the backdrop of a modern-day cityscape, where a young Mexican woman finds herself drawn into its mysteries while forging a new path forward.

Thomas Brussig

Heroes Like Us

Cover of Heroes Like Us by Thomas Brussig

A raucous and satirical novel capturing the audacious spirit of post-war East Berlin, where a rebellious teenager defies societal norms amidst political chaos and turbulent cultural transformations in an era marked by unconventional heroism.

Len Deighton

Funeral in Berlin

Cover of Funeral in Berlin by Len Deighton

A meticulously crafted spy novel set against the tense backdrop of Cold War Berlin, following a resourceful British agent whose covert missions and intricate political manoeuvres unravel a web of betrayal, danger, and hidden loyalties.

Alfred Döblin

Berlin Alexanderplatz

Cover of Berlin Alexanderplatz by Alfred Döblin

An iconic and gritty novel set in Weimar-era Berlin, chronicling the tumultuous life of a recently released convict whose desperate quest for redemption unfolds amidst urban decay, societal chaos, and relentless personal struggle.

Esi Edugyan

Half Blood Blues

Cover of Half Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan

A passionately woven narrative set in war-torn Berlin, where a group of jazz musicians confronts racial tensions, personal betrayals, and the relentless pressures of a society divided by conflict, ultimately forging hope through the power of music.

Jenny Erpenbeck

Go Went Gone

Cover of Go Went Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck

A contemporary and introspective novel set in modern Berlin, following a retired professor as he grapples with personal loss, cultural displacement, and the complex realities of identity in a rapidly evolving urban landscape.

Hans Fallada

Alone in Berlin

Cover of Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada

A stark and emotionally charged novel set in Nazi-era Berlin, following the quiet defiance of ordinary citizens whose small acts of resistance illuminate the oppressive darkness of a totalitarian regime.

Every Man Dies Alone

Cover of Every Man Dies Alone by Hans Fallada

A heartrending tale of individual courage amid the cruelty of Nazi rule, where a working-class couple risks everything to challenge tyranny, embodying hope and defiance in a society gripped by fear.

Lion Feuchtwanger

The Oppermanns

Cover of The Oppermanns by Lion Feuchtwanger

A historical novel set in Nazi-era Berlin, following a cultured family as they navigate moral dilemmas, personal losses, and the harrowing realities of persecution in a society on the brink of collapse.

Adam Hall

The Quiller Memorandum

Cover of The Quiller Memorandum by Adam Hall

A taut and suspenseful espionage thriller set in Cold War Berlin, where a determined British secret agent unravels a dangerous conspiracy amid shifting allegiances and the constant threat of political subterfuge.

Christopher Isherwood

Goodbye to Berlin

Cover of Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood

A richly evocative, semi-autobiographical novel that masterfully captures the decadent lifestyle and simmering political tensions of interwar Berlin, portraying a city on the brink of social upheaval and moral decline.

Mr Norris Changes Trains

Cover of Mr Norris Changes Trains by Christopher Isherwood

A compelling novel of political intrigue and personal transformation in early 1930s Berlin, where a young Englishman finds himself entangled in a web of espionage, betrayal, and shifting allegiances that redefine his destiny.

Philip Kerr

March Violets

Cover of March Violets by Philip Kerr

A hard-hitting detective novel set in Nazi-era Berlin, following a resolute investigator as he navigates treacherous criminal underworlds and exposes sinister conspiracies amidst a backdrop of political corruption and societal decay.

Irmgard Keun

The Artificial Silk Girl

Cover of The Artificial Silk Girl by Irmgard Keun

A poignant novel set in Weimar-era Berlin that follows a young woman’s audacious quest for identity amid the stark realities of a rapidly modernising society, capturing the bittersweet clash between ambition and disillusionment.

Volker Kutscher

Babylon Berlin

Cover of Babylon Berlin by Volker Kutscher

The title Babylon Berlin perfectly encapsulates this seductive noir odyssey, which stalks through 1920s Berlin—its streets lined with glittering facades and back alleys steeped in sin. Detective Rath’s investigation into torture, paramilitaries, and forbidden liaisons echoes the city’s descent into spectacle and fear.

Monika Maron

Silent Close No. 6

A deeply reflective novel set in post-Wall East Berlin, exploring themes of memory, identity, and the transformative impact of political change through the introspective journey of a middle-aged protagonist facing a rapidly shifting cultural landscape.

Ian McEwan

The Innocent

Cover of The Innocent by Ian McEwan

A mesmerising novel set in Cold War Berlin that intricately weaves themes of isolation, moral ambiguity, and the surreal atmosphere of a divided city through the poignant perspective of an expatriate confronting a world in flux.

Cees Nooteboom

All Souls’ Day

Cover of All Souls

A contemplative novel set in Berlin that follows a contemporary Dutch filmmaker’s journey of grief and rediscovery, intertwining personal loss with philosophical reflections on memory, time, and the transient nature of existence.

Non-fiction and Poetry

Patrick Hicks

Sitting on the Berlin Wall

Patrick Hicks

A contemplative poem that transforms the imposing Berlin Wall into a symbol of both separation and memory, interweaving personal reflection with the city’s turbulent political history.

Aimee Mackovic

Walk Along the Berlin Wall

Aimee Mackovic

A dynamic and evocative poem that revisits the physical and emotional scars left by the Berlin Wall, celebrating both the pain of division and the hopeful promise of reunification.

Don Mee Choi

Berlin: 28.6.2019

Don Mee Choi

A richly layered poem that merges personal memory with Berlin’s shifting urban landscape, reflecting on the interplay between historical events and the emotional imprint of the city.

Jon Stallworthy

Letter from Berlin

Jon Stallworthy

A reflective and vivid poem that captures the chill of a snowy Berlin night and the poignant interplay of memory and history, as seen through the eyes of a traveler encountering the city’s profound past.

Jonathan Tel

Ber Lin

Jonathan Tel

A witty and reflective poem that plays on the duality of Berlin’s identity, blending humor with historical and cultural commentary to explore the city’s unique character and global resonance.

This project is growing steadily, starting with curated reading lists and gradually expanding to include literary locations in each featured city.

The long-term goal is to read the books, visit the locations they evoke, and share reviews alongside photos and insights. At the moment, it’s a solo effort built around full-time work — so updates may take time.

If you have suggestions to contribute, or would like to share a review based on how well a book helped you explore a place through literature, feel free to get in touch here.

Berlin Bookish place to visit

Book Burning Memorial

Bebelplatz, 10117

On May 10, 1933, Bebelplatz was the site of the infamous Nazi book burnings. Today, the square features Micha Ullman’s powerful “Empty Library” memorial—an underground room of empty white bookshelves visible through a glass plate in the pavement. Bronze plaques include a famous quote from Heinrich Heine. The memorial is an essential site for reflecting on the silencing of writers under fascism.

The Grimm Library

Humboldt University of Berlin

The Grimm Library

The Jacob-und-Wilhelm-Grimm-Zentrum feels like a cathedral of stories tucked into the heart of Humboldt University. Since its opening in 2009, Max Dudler’s glass-and-steel design has let sunlight pour into the soaring five-story atrium, where some 2.4 million books wait on open-access shelves. Named for Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm—who paced these very streets as they pieced together their groundbreaking German dictionary—the building even cradles fragments of their original manuscripts, from fairy-tale drafts to philological notebooks.

Inside, you’ll find cozy reading nooks, buzzing group-study tables, and cutting-edge digital workstations that make it easy to dive into everything from medieval manuscripts to modern folklore research. A calm exhibition gallery showcases treasures from the archives: illuminated medieval texts one month, fresh folklore findings the next.Regular public talks and hands-on workshops invite everyone—curious tourists, folklore fanatics, and academic sleuths—to explore the Grimms’ world and the living, breathing legacy of German linguistics. Linked underground to the Institute for Cultural History, the Grimm-Zentrum is both a tribute to Romantic-era scholarship and a vibrant hub for today’s literary adventurers.

Literaturhaus Berlin

Fasanenstraße 23, 10719

This literary café, housed in a restored 19th-century villa in Charlottenburg, is part of the Literaturhaus Berlin. This Literaturhaus is part of the wider Network of Literature Houses (Das Netzwerk der Literaturhäuser) across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland – such as Literaturhaus München.

The villa has a storied history itself. It Started life as a fine townhouse in 1889 and has since been a military hospital during WW1, a night club, and a brothel. In 1986 it became Literaturhaus, continuing the tradition of Berlin’s intellectual cafés, where authors and thinkers gather to write, discuss, and read. The café regularly hosts events and readings. There are permanent displays in the villa and event signage recognising its ongoing cultural contributions. As well as a resident bookshop, Literaturhaus also has Café Wintergarten designed in intricate ironwork the belle époque (or Gründerzeit) setting adds a unique charm for literary enthusiasts.
About 40 minutes from Alexanderplatz by metro or an hour by bus.

Brecht Weigel Haus

Chausseestraße 125, 10115

The former residence of playwright Bertolt Brecht and actress Helene Weigel is now a preserved museum. Located in Mitte, it offers a detailed look into Brecht’s final years, including his library, manuscripts, and living spaces. Visitors can explore Brecht’s study, his books, and furniture preserved in their original state. Guided tours also connect this house to the neighboring Berliner Ensemble theater. While best known for his plays and poems, Brecht also experimented with prose—most notably the Dreigroschenroman and his parable-like Stories of Mr. Keuner.