"After all, she belongs to the times, she accepts them as they are, and she seems more than a match for them. Yes indeed, he thought, now getting angry: brutality plus romanticism. Ignorance plus insolence. She may have a motion-picture soul - that's the character of the times - but she is charming! Which is something that can't be said about the times."

A really good read made all the more fascinating by the story of Ulrich Boschwitz's real life and demise. Shame about the ending, in all the ways.