Vicki Baum Books
Vicki Baum (1888–1960) was an Austrian-born novelist who achieved international fame in the interwar period. Originally trained as a harpist, she turned to writing and became one of the most successful authors of her time.
Known for: Grand Hotel
Books by Vicki Baum
Grand Hotel
Grand Hotel is the English edition of Vicki Baum’s 1929 novel Menschen im Hotel. Set in a luxurious Berlin hotel during the late 1920s, the story interweaves the lives of several guests and staff members, including a fading ballerina, a desperate businessman, a charming thief, and a young stenographer. The novel captures the spirit of the Weimar era and portrays the anonymity and interconnectedness of urban life. It became internationally famous and inspired both a Broadway play and the 1932 Academy Award–winning film starring Greta Garbo and John Barrymore.
Read SummaryKey Insights from Vicki Baum
The Hotel and Its Guests: A Microcosm of Modernity
The Grand Hotel stands at the heart of Berlin, a symbol of progress and anonymity. Beneath its marble floors and glittering chandeliers moves a multitude—travelers coming and going, each burdened with their own urgency. I wanted this place to serve as a metaphor for the city itself: a crossroads of ...
From Grand Hotel
Grusinskaya: The Ballerina’s Solitude
Grusinskaya embodies the pain of fading fame. Once adored by audiences across Europe, she now dances before half-empty halls. In her suite at the Grand Hotel, she listens to her own loneliness, waiting for a knock on the door that never comes. Her fame has become a cage; every reminiscence of applau...
From Grand Hotel
About Vicki Baum
Vicki Baum (1888–1960) was an Austrian-born novelist who achieved international fame in the interwar period. Originally trained as a harpist, she turned to writing and became one of the most successful authors of her time. Her novel Menschen im Hotel (Grand Hotel) brought her worldwide recognition a...
Read more
Vicki Baum (1888–1960) was an Austrian-born novelist who achieved international fame in the interwar period. Originally trained as a harpist, she turned to writing and became one of the most successful authors of her time. Her novel Menschen im Hotel (Grand Hotel) brought her worldwide recognition a...
Vicki Baum (1888–1960) was an Austrian-born novelist who achieved international fame in the interwar period. Originally trained as a harpist, she turned to writing and became one of the most successful authors of her time. Her novel Menschen im Hotel (Grand Hotel) brought her worldwide recognition and was later adapted for stage and screen. After emigrating to the United States, Baum continued to write novels in both German and English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vicki Baum (1888–1960) was an Austrian-born novelist who achieved international fame in the interwar period. Originally trained as a harpist, she turned to writing and became one of the most successful authors of her time.
Read Vicki Baum's books in 15 minutes
Get AI-powered summaries with key insights from 1 book by Vicki Baum.