But if this novel could be summarised in a sentence from the book it would be “She knows that what he wants is what she is to want”.

So this is the DDR – East Germany – towards and at the end. The two main characters – others barely feature – are in love. A young woman and an older man, the music obsessive. A thirty-four years older man, Hans, which enables Erpenbeck to give him a childhood under the Nazis and an entire youth and adult life under communism. The woman, Katharina, on the other hand, from a communist family, is part of the generation that wants more. She has relatives on the west and on her first visit to them she sees one part of more, the shops with plenty goods in, but is shocked to find homeless people and beggars, people her relatives see as lazy and workshy rather than unfortunate.

But that sentence “She knows that what he wants…” – read as many DDR metaphors as you like into it – tells you this is a book about male coercive control. There is no doubt it was initially a love match, and both Katharina and Hans mark their early anniversaries. They met on the eleventh of the month so the eleventh is their special day. They went to a particular cafe, which is their special place. They behave as so many teenage lovers do, but Hans is no teenager. He is a married man, more than twice Katharina’s age and his demands, including sexual demands, get harder. The relationship lasts for more than two years before the Wall is breached. And then there were consequences.

I’m a fan of Erpenbeck and would encourage you to read this and her other books though bear in mind the content warning on this one. But if I had any advice for Katharina I’d be coming over all East Enders. “Leave him Katie, he ain’t worth it.”