A wonderful, funny German reader, that gives rare insight to life in Germany around 1912. Written from the point of view of the female half of an American couple visiting Germany for the first time, for the entire summer. All kinds of interesting insights into the daily trivialities of life, that are so different from Germany today: everyone tipped the streetcar conductors, cafés and restaurants stayed open until 2 a.m., hotel rooms had double doors, you hung your shoes for polishing and suit for brushing overnight between the doors, the inner door remained locked. There were first aid clinics, open twenty-four hours, all over the city, the location of the next closest one, advertised by ubiquitous tall square lanterns in heavily trafficked areas. While generally full of praise on the part of the American couple, their praise wasn't universal, so had the ring of truth. For example they complained that 'vulgar' postcards were for sale everywhere and impossible to avoid seeing, or the sad state of the forests surrounding the suburban beer gardens. the book is illustrated with authentic photos taken by the author of real estate billboard advertisements, book stores, sporting goods stores, you name it, a very interesting look into life in Germany around 1912. And don't miss the vocabulary footnotes in the back, they are comedy gold as well. ( )