Marta Abromaityte reviews Look Who’s Back by Timur Vermes…
Look Who’s Back is a satirised account of the reincarnation of Adolf Hitler whom to his dismay awakens in modern Berlin in the year 2011. Surprisingly 1940’s Hitler adapts relatively quickly to contemporary surroundings and after failing to locate his bunker, he reluctantly begins residing in a newspaper kiosk. Soon after he is encountered by TV producers who believe him to be an unsurpassed Hitler impersonator and hail him as the greatest method actor to date and want to make him the star of their comedy programme.
Timur Vermes utilizes the political issues of the Nazi era and the modern world in his highly contentious novel. What’s more strange and disturbing is that Verme’s version of Adolf Hitler, although a very safe portrayal is vastly likable even though he presents Hitler’s views very clearly. Hitler’s likability is solely down to Verme’s linguistic talents, comically, making Hitler out to be a harmless old man that you can introduce you’re grandmother to and yet at the same time flaunting Hitler’s horrifying opinions to the reader. Look Who’s Back feels unusually pleasant in its representation of one of the most controversial subjects of the 20th century. The language feels stagnant at times offering a dull atmosphere to some of the chapters in which Adolf Hitler communicates with the other characters.
Although Timur Vermes employs a lot of comedy and wit in the way Adolf Hitler reacts to modern day Berlin, it becomes difficult to differentiate between what’s intentional and what’s not. Drifting through the streets of Germany, Hitler realises just to what extent his beloved country has changed. Society has become immersed in technology and corrupt politics. Disgusted, Hitler vows to revolutionise Germany once more. His response to present-day surroundings ensues nothing but hilarity in the reader due to the way Vermes articulates Hitler’s demeanour. Hitler often comments on the way the public now choose to live their lives, children submerged in smartphones and dismayed elderly women going around picking up the excretions of their animals. Hitler’s observations of society are often presented in a comical way to give the novel that much needed comic relief; this is of course due to the sensitive subject matter of Hitler’s awful deeds during his supremacy.
With its farcical depiction of Nazism, Look Who’s Back is an underrated and an astute book, portraying one of the most terrifying moments in history occurring once more. Vermes satirises modern day western culture, it’s captivation with zealous political figures and obsession with technological advancements. With that being said, Vermes’s important novel doesn’t neglect the horrendous crimes that Adolf Hitler implemented during his reign making Look Who’s Back a significant piece of literature.
Marta Abromaityte
Originally published September 29, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
