In "The Director," Daniel Kehlmann presents a nuanced take on the Faust legend, focusing on G.W. Pabst, an influential film director. Unlike the straightforward contract with the devil in the original Faust tale, Pabst's moral compromises unfold gradually under the manipulation of Joseph Goebbels during the Nazi regime. This historical novel captures Pabst's struggles between his artistic ambitions and intense pressures, illustrating how external influences and personal ego shape his decisions, ultimately reflecting the intricate nature of moral ambiguity in the face of tyranny.
In Kehlmann's reimagining, Goebbels cunningly wields a stick and a carrot: alternates the accusation that Pabst was a Communist with appeals to Pabst's ego, bruised by Hollywood's treatment.
Pabst's career moves were circuitous and puzzling, making him a tasty subject for historical fiction; he became one of the most influential directors in Germany after World War I.
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