Babylon Berlin - No Pipe References

[madox07]

Volker Kutscher is a very sought after name when it comes to modern police novels in Europe, and I must admit he did a hell of a job on his Gereon Rath series, but in a novel spanning 6 volumes set in the Weimar era Berlin, I sure expected some pipe references ... I mean really this is the golden age of tobacco in Europe. He mentions more than I cared to remember the Overstolz brand of cigarettes, which are a classical German brand from Koln, and that is relevant to the story since the main character is a police officer who was relocated from Koln to Berlin, but other than that a cigar pops up here and there .. and no pipe. It's quite interesting, the plot is very well researched in as far as historical details, street names, fashion description, building description, cultural habit, cars, the old layout of the Berlin public transport, so on and so forth, so it would be hard to imagine that the author left out the pipe due to lack of historical evidence or by mistake. At the same time, given the German cultural heritage of pipes, one cannot imagine they were not in fashion during the 1930s in Berlin. So the guy either didn't care for pipes and depicting them in the novel in spite of their popularity, or - the less believable hypothesis, he simply overlooked this aspect. Just an observation ... One volume down, three to go, and still looking for pipes (the latter two haven't been translated into English yet).

By the way, for the cinema fans around here, if you have seen the tv show Babylon Berlin on HBO/HBO Go, I definitely recommend the book, as it is so much better than the series. While the show was pretty good, they sure did put some spins in it that are inconsistent with the book, some of whom I found totally uncalled for. I won't say anything beyond this, as it would mean to give some spoilers.

 

[BROBS]

Volker Kutscher is a very sought after name when it comes to modern police novels in Europe, and I must admit he did a hell of a job on his Gereon Rath series, but in a novel spanning 6 volumes set in the Weimar era Berlin, I sure expected some pipe references ... I mean really this is the golden age of tobacco in Europe. He mentions more than I cared to remember the Overstolz brand of cigarettes, which are a classical German brand from Koln, and that is relevant to the story since the main character is a police officer who was relocated from Koln to Berlin, but other than that a cigar pops up here and there .. and no pipe. It's quite interesting, the plot is very well researched in as far as historical details, street names, fashion description, building description, cultural habit, cars, the old layout of the Berlin public transport, so on and so forth, so it would be hard to imagine that the author left out the pipe due to lack of historical evidence or by mistake. At the same time, given the German cultural heritage of pipes, one cannot imagine they were not in fashion during the 1930s in Berlin. So the guy either didn't care for pipes and depicting them in the novel in spite of their popularity, or - the less believable hypothesis, he simply overlooked this aspect. Just an observation ... One volume down, three to go, and still looking for pipes (the latter two haven't been translated into English yet).

By the way, for the cinema fans around here, if you have seen the tv show Babylon Berlin on HBO/HBO Go, I definitely recommend the book, as it is so much better than the series. While the show was pretty good, they sure did put some spins in it that are inconsistent with the book, some of whom I found totally uncalled for. I won't say anything beyond this, as it would mean to give some spoilers.

I agree that it was an oversight. No way were people not smoking pipes everywhere at this time. In many WW2 photos I own the soldiers are smoking pipes.. usually a small squat bulldog type or similar. Definitely usually a smaller squat pipe with shallow chamber... probably for shag.

 

[HitchensDog]

Volker Kutscher is a very sought after name when it comes to modern police novels in Europe, and I must admit he did a hell of a job on his Gereon Rath series, but in a novel spanning 6 volumes set in the Weimar era Berlin, I sure expected some pipe references ... I mean really this is the golden age of tobacco in Europe. He mentions more than I cared to remember the Overstolz brand of cigarettes, which are a classical German brand from Koln, and that is relevant to the story since the main character is a police officer who was relocated from Koln to Berlin, but other than that a cigar pops up here and there .. and no pipe. It's quite interesting, the plot is very well researched in as far as historical details, street names, fashion description, building description, cultural habit, cars, the old layout of the Berlin public transport, so on and so forth, so it would be hard to imagine that the author left out the pipe due to lack of historical evidence or by mistake. At the same time, given the German cultural heritage of pipes, one cannot imagine they were not in fashion during the 1930s in Berlin. So the guy either didn't care for pipes and depicting them in the novel in spite of their popularity, or - the less believable hypothesis, he simply overlooked this aspect. Just an observation ... One volume down, three to go, and still looking for pipes (the latter two haven't been translated into English yet).

By the way, for the cinema fans around here, if you have seen the tv show Babylon Berlin on HBO/HBO Go, I definitely recommend the book, as it is so much better than the series. While the show was pretty good, they sure did put some spins in it that are inconsistent with the book, some of whom I found totally uncalled for. I won't say anything beyond this, as it would mean to give some spoilers.

I loved the Babylon Series on Netflix. I didn't realize that show was based on a series of books. I'm definitely going to look into getting those. I noticed the lack of pipes too in the show. Seemed odd to me as well.

 

[fightnhampster]

Absolutely fabulously rich and well done TV show! It's on Netflix though, not HBO. ?

 

[scloyd]

Absolutely fabulously rich and well done TV show! It's on Netflix though, not HBO.

Good to know. I'm tired of bouncing around Netflix looking for something good to watch.

 

[canucklehead]

I agree that it was an oversight. No way were people not smoking pipes everywhere at this time. In many WW2 photos I own the soldiers are smoking pipes.. usually a small squat bulldog type or similar. Definitely usually a smaller squat pipe with shallow chamber... probably for shag.

 

[cshubhra]

If the author chose to leave the pipe - what will you do? It’s his artistic license!

I completely understand your sentiment!

 

[workman]

I have been wanting to watch this. Hope I can find the time soon.

 

[madox07]

It's on Netflix though, not HBO.

It may very well be in the US, Netflix in Europe casts a totally different selection of shows and movies. I found it on HBO GO.

View attachment 38970
View attachment 38971

That's an emblematic pipe for the era. I think this was the six paneled pipe I was talking about in the 1974 All Quiet on the Western Front. You nailed it!!!

 

[fightnhampster]

It may very well be in the US, Netflix in Europe casts a totally different selection of shows and movies. I found it on HBOGO.

That makes sense, I stand corrected. ?

 

[jttnk]

Very enjoyable series. Great costume, sets, and overall feel to it. Very rich and immersive in the period.

We watched it in German with subtitles. I find most of the time, non English speaking shows are more fun in their native language. Subtitles force you to engage. The overdubbing, no matter how good is always annoying to me.

 

[fightnhampster]

Good to know. I'm tired of bouncing around Netflix looking for something good to watch.

Two other good series on there with some historical flavor:

Halt and Catch Fire
Turn

If you only pick one, go with the first.

 

[saltedplug]

Volker Kutscher is a very sought after name when it comes to modern police novels in Europe, and I must admit he did a hell of a job on his Gereon Rath series, but in a novel spanning 6 volumes set in the Weimar era Berlin, I sure expected some pipe references ... I mean really this is the golden age of tobacco in Europe. He mentions more than I cared to remember the Overstolz brand of cigarettes, which are a classical German brand from Koln, and that is relevant to the story since the main character is a police officer who was relocated from Koln to Berlin, but other than that a cigar pops up here and there .. and no pipe. It's quite interesting, the plot is very well researched in as far as historical details, street names, fashion description, building description, cultural habit, cars, the old layout of the Berlin public transport, so on and so forth, so it would be hard to imagine that the author left out the pipe due to lack of historical evidence or by mistake. At the same time, given the German cultural heritage of pipes, one cannot imagine they were not in fashion during the 1930s in Berlin. So the guy either didn't care for pipes and depicting them in the novel in spite of their popularity, or - the less believable hypothesis, he simply overlooked this aspect. Just an observation ... One volume down, three to go, and still looking for pipes (the latter two haven't been translated into English yet).

By the way, for the cinema fans around here, if you have seen the tv show Babylon Berlin on HBO/HBO Go, I definitely recommend the book, as it is so much better than the series. While the show was pretty good, they sure did put some spins in it that are inconsistent with the book, some of whom I found totally uncalled for. I won't say anything beyond this, as it would mean to give some spoilers.

The pipe is a very small part of western culture as seen in sales of pipe tobacco compared to cigarettes. We are an afterthought to the big tobacco companies. Since we are so small, although I understand your disappointment with these novels for overlooking what we love, why insist on that historical verisimilitude?

We should expect to be overlooked.

 

[anotherbob]

Very enjoyable series. Great costume, sets, and overall feel to it. Very rich and immersive in the period.

We watched it in German with subtitles. I find most of the time, non English speaking shows are more fun in their native language. Subtitles force you to engage. The overdubbing, no matter how good is always annoying to me.

I once rented this Korean movie and the clerk at the video store was adamant that we use subtitles not the dubs. I always use subtitles not dubs if possible. So after watching it the first time I rewatched it with the dubs. It was amazing it honestly sounded like they grabbed homeless people off the street gave them the lines and the only direction they gave them was try and sound like Curly from The Three Stooges. The movie was "Attack the Gas Station" a pretty entertaining comedy.

 

[jttnk]

Like the bad (great?) Kung Fu movies of the 70’s. Those have been fodder for comedic routines, for a long time, for a reason.