Robert Gernhardt himself had the idea for a book that he wanted to call ‘Little Gernhardt’. It was meant to be a book like an encyclopedia – sorted alphabetically according to key words – where he would recount things about himself and the world he lived in. Robert Gernhardt was unable to realise the book himself, but numerous texts and key words are available, which show how far he had developed the idea. Publisher Andrea Stoll has used these materials and other unpublished texts from the Brunnenhefte to realise Gernhardt’s idea. From ‘driving’ to ‘sketching’, it shows us how indispensable Robert Gernhardt’s humour and self-irony are, particularly in today’s world. His texts ‘flight’ and ‘fortress Europe’ demonstrate with incredible topicality how sensitive he was to the time he lived in and how he perceived changes in society. A book that is full of surprises. An ideal introduction into Robert Gernhardt’s world.
