Das Vichy-Regime in Sigmaringen – Frankreichs Hauptstadt in Oberschwaben

Der Roman 'Reise ans Ende der Nacht' (französischer Originaltitel 'Voyage au bout de la nuit') folgt den Abenteuern von Ferdinand Bardamu in verschiedenen Episoden. Bardamu entkommt den Wirren des Ersten Weltkrieges, lebt in Afrika und Amerika und kehrt nach Paris zurück, wo er Medizin studiert und als Armenarzt arbeitet. Der Roman zeichnet sich durch seine pessimistische Darstellung der menschlichen Existenz und seine innovative Sprache aus, die auf der mündlichen Rede der Arbeiterklasse basiert. Er gewann 1932 den Prix Renaudot, trotz der kontroversen Reaktionen der Kritiker auf seine sprachlichen Neuerungen und die pessimistische Darstellung der menschlichen Verhältnisse.

Published in 1957, 'D'un chateau l'autre' is part of Céline's post-war trilogy, along with 'Nord' and 'Rigodon'. The novel describes his time in Sigmaringen, Germany, where the Vichy government and other collaborators had fled. It paints a picture of a chaotic and fearful environment, with the collaborators living in decrepit quarters and under constant threat of Allied air raids and the approaching Free French Army. The book is characterized by Céline's unique writing style, which blends elements of poetry and music to convey the emotional intensity and desperation of the period.

Published in 1937, 'Bagatelles pour un massacre' is one of Céline's most notorious works, characterized by its intense antisemitism. The book promotes an 'anti-Semitic pedagogy' and advocates for a military alliance with Hitler's Germany to save France from what Céline perceived as Jewish hegemony. The work is marked by its racist and inflammatory language, reflecting Céline's deep-seated antisemitic beliefs. Despite its controversial nature, the book gained some support from the French far Right but was widely criticized for its crudity and extremism.