Right and Left

First published in 1929, this novella by Joseph Roth depicts Berlin during the 1920s, exploring its nightlife, corruption, political unrest, and economic hardship. The narrative follows Paul Bernheim, who returns to Berlin after World War I to inherit his father's banking business. Facing severe inflation and troubled by his brother's attraction to the brownshirts, Bernheim seeks guidance from a Russian émigré profiteer. The advice he receives proves both beneficial and ruinous, and Bernheim eventually discovers he has been manipulated by someone skilled in deception. Roth draws on the same historical period covered in his journalism. The novella examines the psychology of fascism during a pivotal moment in German history.