Berlin Childhood at the Turn of the Century

Walter Benjamin immerses himself in memories of his childhood. Touching sketches of growing up at the turn of the century from the famous German philosopher. In 1990, Walter Benjamin, a boy from a Jewish family, was only 8 years old. As life passes, memories of childhood thin out and fade. But Benjamin was able to peek through the cracks of time and gather from colorful fragments, scents, shades, and moods wonderful, tender sketches of cherished years. Memories of skating, postcard collections, the smell of the Christmas tree, and the rustle of books that surrounded him from early childhood — all these tiny fragments of Walter Benjamin's childhood are lovingly described, enveloping the reader in the magic of his whimsical, poetic metaphors.