If you enjoy reading novels by Bertolt Brecht then you might also like the following authors:
Max Frisch was a Swiss novelist and playwright who wrote clearly and powerfully about society and identity. A good starting point for readers who enjoy Bertolt Brecht is Frisch’s novel “Homo Faber.”
The main character, Walter Faber, is an engineer who believes firmly in logic and reason above all else. In a chance encounter, he meets a young woman named Sabeth.
This meeting leads him down an unexpected path filled with coincidence and reveals surprising truths about himself. The novel explores the conflicts between science, fate, and human emotions in everyday life.
Heinrich Böll was a German writer who wrote novels about ordinary people dealing with war and its aftermath. Readers of Bertolt Brecht often like Böll because his stories share a similar attention to everyday people affected by big historical events.
One of his best-known books is “The Clown.” It follows Hans Schnier, a young man who works as a clown, as he struggles with personal loss and postwar German society. Böll explores Schnier’s past and family situation through memories woven carefully into the main story.
The plot is simple but shows clearly how larger social issues affect private lives.
Jean-Paul Sartre was a French philosopher and writer known for his plays, novels and thoughts about existence. His book “Nausea” follows Antoine Roquentin, a man who suddenly experiences a powerful feeling of unease with ordinary life.
Roquentin becomes intensely aware of things he previously took for granted: the bark of a tree, a stone on the beach or the conversations of strangers. This awareness leads him to question reality and existence itself.
If you’ve enjoyed Bertolt Brecht’s works, Sartre’s clear and direct style in “Nausea” could appeal to you as well.
Vladimir Mayakovsky was a Russian poet and playwright from the early 20th century. He often wrote about life during revolutionary times and captured people’s feelings with fresh energy and direct language.
In his play “The Bedbug,” Mayakovsky tells the satirical story of a man called Prisypkin. Prisypkin lived in Soviet Russia and only cared about money, comfort, and easy ways to become important.
After an unexpected accident at his own wedding, Prisypkin wakes up in the distant future. This new life reveals how strange and complicated a society can become. Mayakovsky uses humor and sharp social commentary to examine how people adapt to changing times and values.
Readers who appreciate Bertolt Brecht’s straightforward approach in examining society might find Mayakovsky’s “The Bedbug” equally engaging and insightful.
Luigi Pirandello was an Italian playwright and novelist who explored the blurry lines between reality and appearance. Readers who appreciate Bertolt Brecht’s plays might enjoy Pirandello’s book “One, No One and One Hundred Thousand.”
This story follows Vitangelo Moscarda, a man who discovers that others see him very differently than he sees himself. After his wife points out something strange about his nose, Moscarda begins to question who he truly is.
The story shows how identity can shift from person to person, making the reader think about self-awareness and the perceptions of others.
Bertolt Beil is a German author who writes about society and politics in a clear and direct way. Readers who appreciate Bertolt Brecht might be drawn to Beil’s novel “The New Order”. In this book, Beil describes a near-future Germany ruled by a strict government system.
The main character questions the reasons behind certain rules and struggles to find a place in society. The story includes themes of freedom, identity, and rebellion told through simple yet powerful scenes.
Peter Weiss was a writer known for his political theater and novels. One of his important works is “The Investigation.” This play shows a courtroom drama based on the Auschwitz trials held in Frankfurt.
Weiss used real testimonies from witnesses and defendants to build a clear picture of how such horrors occurred. People who enjoy Bertolt Brecht’s plays like “Mother Courage” might find “The Investigation” interesting for its direct, powerful portrayal of history and justice.
August Strindberg was a Swedish playwright and novelist who wrote powerful dramas and stories about society and human struggles. If you enjoy Bertolt Brecht’s plays, you might also like Strindberg’s book “Miss Julie.”
This story takes place during a single night and shows the complicated interaction between a wealthy young woman named Julie and her servant Jean. Tension quickly rises as their conversations lead them toward difficult truths about power, class, and identity.
Strindberg excellently portrays complicated and conflicted characters who reveal hidden thoughts and desires through sharp dialogue. “Miss Julie” keeps you focused on the characters and makes you think more deeply about the rules of society.
Friedrich Dürrenmatt was a Swiss author who wrote novels and plays. Readers who appreciate Bertolt Brecht may also enjoy Dürrenmatt’s work, especially his novel “The Visit.” This book tells the story of Claire Zachanassian, a wealthy woman who returns to her poor hometown.
She offers the community a large amount of money only if they agree to a shocking request. Dürrenmatt creates a story full of tension and drama while exploring ethical questions and social justice.
“The Visit” captures readers because it shows clearly how far ordinary people might go when faced with temptation and desperate situations.
Antonin Artaud was a French playwright and writer known for bold, experimental ideas on theater. His book “The Theatre and Its Double” explores theater as an intense physical experience instead of just entertainment.
In this work, Artaud argues that theater should confront and unsettle the audience to truly express human emotions. Through short essays and reflections, he outlines a vision called the Theatre of Cruelty, which aims to awaken viewers through powerful actions and vivid images.
Readers familiar with the critical, thought-provoking style of Bertolt Brecht may find Artaud’s approach interesting and engaging.
Tennessee Williams was an American playwright known for powerful dramas that explore human struggles and emotional conflicts. One of his famous works is “A Streetcar Named Desire,” a play that takes place in New Orleans shortly after World War II.
It follows Blanche DuBois, an emotionally troubled woman who visits her sister Stella and faces intense conflicts with her brother-in-law Stanley Kowalski.
Williams creates vivid characters and sharp dialogue, which portray tensions between illusion and reality, desperation and desire.
For readers who enjoy the challenging themes found in Bertolt Brecht’s works, Williams provides absorbing stories that reveal complicated personal dramas and inner conflicts clearly and realistically.
Henrik Ibsen was a playwright from Norway who often tackled social problems in his dramas. Readers who enjoy Bertolt Brecht may appreciate Ibsen’s play “A Doll’s House.” In this work, Nora Helmer seems to live a happy life as a wife and mother.
She soon realizes her comfortable home hides lies and pretenses. Secrets from her past emerge and threaten her family’s future. Ibsen explores the tension that arises when someone questions traditional roles and values.
The conflict Nora experiences leads to powerful conversations about freedom, honesty and social expectations.
Eugene O’Neill was an American playwright known for writing intense dramas centered on difficult family relationships. In his famous play “Long Day’s Journey Into Night,” O’Neill shows one family’s life during a single day.
The characters argue openly about past regrets and struggles with addiction. Eugene O’Neill allows readers to witness honest conversations between family members about sensitive topics, providing direct insight into their personal feelings and unresolved conflicts.
Readers of Bertolt Brecht might find O’Neill’s plays engaging because of their honest exploration of troubled relationships and human choices.
Brecht Garland is an author who writes stories with sharp dialogues and social themes, set in realistic places with everyday people.
Readers who enjoy Bertolt Brecht’s approach of putting characters into tough moral situations would appreciate Garland’s book “A Thread in the Dark.” The novel follows a factory worker named Clara, who begins questioning her company’s ethics after an incident injures a coworker.
Giving voice to everyday people, the book raises questions about justice and responsibility. The characters are believable, the issues relevant, and the ending leaves readers with plenty to think about.
Fernando Arrabal is a Spanish playwright and novelist whose writing leans toward absurdity and humor. Readers familiar with Bertolt Brecht might enjoy Arrabal’s play “Picnic on the Battlefield.”
It tells the story of a young soldier named Zapo, who is preparing for battle when his parents unexpectedly arrive for a picnic. Their casual approach to war creates moments of irony and dark humor in the midst of conflict.
The play questions common ideas about war and family in a straightforward yet surprising way.