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Schroeder stops German thriller

freedom of speech, whats that?

Toytown Germany > Discussion forum > Germany-wide > Life in Germany
Inflatablewoman
I doubt the Bush could stop a thing like this...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3626427.stm
QUOTE
Schroeder stops German thriller
 
Schroeder complained about the face on the book's cover
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has forced the withdrawal of a novel in which a disgruntled pharmacist disgruntled kills the chancellor.
Mr Schroeder took out an injunction on the grounds that the face on the book's first edition cover resembled him.

Publishers Betzel said "The End of the Chancellor - The Last Shot" had now been reprinted with a new cover.

Mr Schroeder's poll ratings plunged to record lows in Germany after a series of unpopular economic reforms.

  He wants to show the high-ups that their intrigues can only be answered in one language: the language of violence

Publisher's note 
In the novel, pharmacist Hans Hansmann shoots the chancellor because he blames government policies for the failure of his business.

"He believes he has to take his destiny in his own hands," a note by Betzel explains.

"He wants to show the high-ups that their intrigues can only be answered in one language: the language of violence."

The contents of the book had not been disputed, a spokesman for Betzel told French news agency AFP.

The thriller was written by a Reinhard Liebermann, believed to be a pen name for a journalist.

The book has been criticised by German media for being "tasteless".
profundo
Napoleon did.
Verdi's opera 'Ballo in Maschera' or Masked Ball or MaskenBall or Vendetta in Domino

Motive: No killing of Kings/Monarchs/Rulers on a state sponsored stage.
To this day, depending where you are you may encounter a different version of the show.

"The libretto by Antonio Somma (who at first asked to remain anonymous) took its inspiration from that of Eugène Scribe for the opera by Daniel Auber which narrates the story of a regicide which took place in Sweden in mid-18th century. The opera premièred in Paris in 1833 and was still being performed in 1857, when Verdi decided to rework the libretto. Bourbon censorship meddled constantly with the composition of the opera: Verdi was obliged to change many details, perhaps too many (the king must become a duke, the time of the story must be anticipated to an epoch in which the people still believed in magic, the conspirators must act wholly out of personal motives). Shortly after the Maestro arrived in Naples in January, 1858, Napoleon III narrowly escaped an attempt on his life, and the censors became even more stifling. Verdi was not willing to distort his opera completely, as the San Carlo asked him to, and broke his contract with the theatre. The theatre sued him and Verdi responded with a libel suit. This legal skirmish ended with the withdrawal of accusations by the theatre and the composer's promise to finish another work by the autumn. The opera finally appeared as Una vendetta in dominio. Ricordi tried to get it for the Scala Theatre in Milan, but Verdi conceded it to the Apollo in Rome. But not even here did the libretto enjoy any peace: the scene had to be changed from Stockholm to Boston and King Gustave became the Count of Warwick, governor of Massachusetts. In the words of Shakespeare...much ado about nothing. The opera was finally presented with the title Un ballo in maschera on the evening of February 17th, 1859. Nasce così Una vendetta in domino."
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