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book (design) story #245

gustav regler:
wasser, brot und blaue bohnen

neuer deutscher verlag, berlin, 1932
printer: r. boll g.m.b.h., berlin
size: 18 x 12 cm
designer: (unknown)

this book by socialist writer gustav regler (1898-1963) is a novel about (political) prisoners. its title water, bread and blue beans refers to the typical diet in prisons while "blaue bohnen" is german slang for bullets.

the great photographic jacket by an uncredited designer is in the style of john heartfield who also designed books for "neuer deutsche verlag".

statistical figures from germany are printed across each prison floor: 521'232 sentenced / 8000 political-proletarian prisoners / 45'000 political-proletarians accused.

this book was one of those banned and burned by the nazis in 1933.