PositiveThe Times Literary Supplement (UK)Jähner constructs an innovative overall interpretation of German lives in the postwar years ... Aftermath is a quirky, sometimes humorous, and at times brilliant synthesis of a great deal of secondary literature, enlivened by quotations from published primary sources, extracts from works of creative literature and discussions of art and aesthetics ... This is a nuanced account, in which the shadow sides are always highlighted ... a thoughtful and highly readable account. But it has its limitations ... There are also odd emphases rooted in Jähner’s own scholarly interests and professional background, including the extensive discussions of Hans Habe or Alfred Döblin. But the resulting imbalances can be forgiven when the overall composite picture is highly stimulating and readily accessible ... deserve[s] a wide readership, not least because the questions...are so significant, and the answers...far from being final words on these issues.
