Cat and Mouse: The Second of the Butz Trilogy

Author: (German) Grass (Grass/G.) / Cai Hongjun / Shi Yanzhi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: This book is the second part of "The Danzig Trilogy." Upon its publication in Germany, it sparked a debate about "art and pornography." Some criticized the "sexual misconduct in the military" depicted in the book, claiming that "the erotic descriptions were harmful to teenagers" and that it "should be placed on the banned books list." However, most opinions held that it "belongs to the realm of art and contributes to enriching people's artistic appreciation." It is now included in the elective curriculum of German secondary schools.
A physically disabled teenager named Marko faces constant ridicule and mockery from his classmates, which instills a sense of inferiority in him. Yet, he is also a determined individual. To become the "hero" in his peers' eyes, he dedicates himself to rigorous training in gymnastics, swimming, and diving, earning their admiration. This, in turn, inflates his ego to the point where he steals a medal from a naval officer who comes to give a report at school and wears it proudly. When the incident is exposed, he is expelled from school.
Afterward, he joins the military, where he works diligently and tirelessly, earning the favor of a military officer's wife. However, under her seduction, he engages in a relationship with her, and when the affair is discovered, he faces disciplinary action. Yet, his quick wit helps him later discover an enemy underground warehouse in a pond, for which he is again recognized and rewarded.
Later, he joins the tank corps and destroys numerous Soviet tanks during combat, finally earning a genuine medal. To restore his reputation, he requests to return to his alma mater to give a report on his "heroic deeds," but the school principal refuses. With his dream of returning home in glory shattered, he disappears from public view forever.