Super Short Summary

Group Portrait with Lady by Heinrich Böll, first published in 1971, explores life in Germany from World War I through the 1970s. Told by an unnamed narrator, it follows Leni Pfeiffer's efforts to prevent her apartment building in Cologne from being demolished, reflecting mid-century capitalism's alienation. The story conveys Leni and her son, Lev's countercultural beliefs rejecting German efficiency and materialism, amid the pervasive ambivalence of the era. The novel addresses the complex periods of Nazi Germany, the Federal Republic, and the Cold War, while capturing Leni's compassion despite societal horrors. The book contains references to war, persecution, and loss.