Ulrike (novel)
Ulrike is a youth novel by the writer Karl Neumann , which was published in 1974 by the children's book publisher Berlin . In the novel Ulrike , Neumann was one of the first authors of books for young people in the GDR to address sexuality between young people. The book subsequently became a bestseller and was published ten times by 1986 . The novel was translated into Slovak and was published in 1977 in Bratislava. It is recommended for readers aged 13 and over. The novel is divided into eleven named chapters, an authorial narrator tells the story.
content
The 15-year-old student Ulrike Sebald is a keen swimmer and is able to get her single mother to attend a sports school. After a few sporting successes there, shortly before the start of the winter holidays, she sneaks out of the boarding school with the residents of her room for the youth carnival. At Mardi Gras, she meets a boy who is interested in her and wants to bring her home. Before they start, they are stopped by the police, it turns out that the boy tried to steal the motorcycle. Ulrike is brought back to the boarding school by the police. She now has to worry about staying at the school. In order not to betray her residents, she decides to remain silent and to leave school voluntarily; even then, when there were signs that she could stay.
When she gets home, she keeps it to herself for the time being. When she arrives, she is introduced to Wilhelm Röllke. Her mother met him and will marry him, who has a nine-year-old son. Ulrike feels disgust for her mother's new boyfriend.
The sports teacher Hermann Wienhold from her hometown learns from the sports school that Ulrike has left it and that he now has to take special care of her. He decides to visit Ulrike. He is accompanied by 17-year-old Steffen Rumland, Ulrike's former swimming colleague. They manage to win Ulrike over to work with the next generation. The mother, however, does not like Ulrike's frequent dealings with Steffen, and the two of them are overdone, culminating in Ulrike running away from home. She is staying with her friend Kerstin Berger ("Kessi"). Her mother's new boyfriend seeks her there and tries to persuade her to move in. Her mother would also move in shortly. Ulrike develops sympathy for Wilhelm and agrees. The relationship with her mother does not improve for the time being.
During the holidays, Ulrike takes on the training work for the “Sprotten” swimming group, as agreed. In addition, she trains herself daily, but notices how her performance deteriorates. Gradually, her relationship with her mother improves. Her marriage to Wilhelm takes place at Easter. The invited grandmother Therese Selbald has to cancel, but wants Ulrike to visit. She drives to her with Steffen, who repeatedly complains of knee pain that has existed for a long time. On the way Steffen tries to approach her, but Ulrike rejects her. After both of them arrive back home, Steffen has to be immediately taken to the hospital because of his knee; Steffen's leg has to be amputated. Ulrike continues to stand by him, which is why there is a dispute with Wilhelm and her mother, who are concerned about their future together. When Wilhelm speaks to Ulrike's mother, she begins to understand Ulrike. You leave the decision up to her alone. At the end the author gives an outlook on the future of the two; Steffen, who studies medicine, marries the sports student Ulrike.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Eilenburg History and Museum Association, Eilenburg City Museum (ed.): Historical city tour Eilenburg: Karl Neumann's birthplace