The Snowman (Fauser novel)

The Snowman
AuthorJörg Fauser
Original titleDer Schneemann
TranslatorAnthea Bell
LanguageGerman
PublisherRogner & Bernhard
Publication date
1981
Publication placeWest Germany
Published in English
1 September 2004
Pages241
ISBN3807701605

The Snowman (German: Der Schneemann) is a 1981 novel by the German writer Jörg Fauser. It is about the small-time criminal Blum who unexpectedly comes over a large batch of cocaine and tries to sell it while avoiding its owners, visiting locations in Malta, Munich, Frankfurt, Wesel, Amsterdam and Ostend.[1]

The writing was inspired by American crime fiction. The novel, along with Das Schlangenmaul (1985), stands out in Fauser's bibliography by being crime fiction and was commercially successful on a level he had not experienced before.[2]

The book was published in English translation by Anthea Bell in 2004.[3] A German edition with original illustrations by Jim Avignon was published in 2024 to celebrate Fauser's 80th birthday.[4]

The novel was adapted into the 1985 film The Snowman, directed by Peter F. Bringmann and starring Marius Müller-Westernhagen.[5]

References

  1. ^ Schirra, Isabell Nina (18 June 2020). "Meister des Grautons". Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  2. ^ Fuchs, Herbert (19 March 2021). "'Coco', schäbige Hotelzimmer, Dealer und andere dunkle Gestalten". Literaturkritik.de (in German). Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Crime and culture". The Guardian. 29 January 2005. Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  4. ^ Esmailzadeh, Sonja (18 July 2024). "Jim Avignon grüßt den 'Schneemann'". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 14 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Der Schneemann" (in German). Lexikon des internationalen Films. Retrieved 14 November 2025.