and the voice reads on
Weihs, Ingrid Weinzierl, Johann Weiss, Hildegard
Wick, Alfred Wödl, Alfred Woina, Franz Zehetner, Gerhard
Zipfl, Aloisia Zipko, Hedwig
and then starts again from the beginning and so on forever
Afterword
There is by now a very extensive literature about and around the project of euthanasia of children that was initiated at Spiegelgrund by the Nazi regime, and it would create too long a digression to refer here to the material that I have relied on. However, I must take this opportunity to thank especially Friedrich Zawrel, whose childhood and youth and late, unexpected encounter with his former tormentor Heinrich Gross have inspired corresponding passages in this novel. In many interviews for books, films and lectures, as well as in conversations with me, Zawrel has given insightful and detailed accounts of what an upbringing at Spiegelgrund could be like and this has been invaluable for my writing. I also want to thank Andrea Fredriksson-Zederbauer for all her help with research for and editing of the book, as well as for her many critical and constructive comments. Thanks also to René Chahrour and Herwig Czech, and to Werner Vogt, whose talk on 28 April 2002 at the burial in Wien’s Zentralfriedhof of the remains of the several hundreds of Spiegelgrund victims of child murder is quoted here in an abbreviated form (pp.546–7).
Translator’s Note
The translator is responsible for translations of German words, phrases, text extracts (e.g. from case notes) and concepts, and also, now and then, the brief explanations.
About the Author
Steve Sem-Sandberg was born in 1958. He divides his time between Vienna and Stockholm.
By the Same Author
THE EMPEROR OF LIES
Copyright
First published in 2016
by Faber & Faber Ltd
Bloomsbury House
74–77 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DA
This ebook edition first published in 2016
All rights reserved
© Steve Sem-Sandberg, 2014
Translation © Anna Paterson, 2016
Cover design by Faber
Background photograph © colors/Shutterstock
The right of Steve Sem-Sandberg to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly
ISBN 978–0–571–28848–9
The Chosen Ones Page 50