The Tunnel (Kellermann novel)
A novel about an engineer's transatlantic tunnel project.
The Tunnel is a novel by Bernhard Kellermann published in April 1913. It became one of the most successful books of the first half of the 20th century, with 100,000 copies sold in the six months after its release and circulation reaching millions by 1939. The work focuses on social progress, particularly in relation to modern technology.
Quick Facts
- Author
- Bernhard Kellermann
- Original title
- Der Tunnel
- Country
- German
- Publisher
- S. Fischer Verlag
- Published
- 1913
- Published in English
- 1915
- Pages
- 402
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- Rudolf Olden, in his book Hitler the Pawn, says that Adolf Hitler talked about the 1915 film for days after seeing it.
- The story anticipated the Great Depression and presented a parallel world history of the 1920s and 1930s without the First World War.
- The novel made the critical observation that technology always becomes outdated with its application.
Plot
Allan, an idealistic engineer, plans to build a tunnel under the Atlantic Ocean connecting North America with Europe within a few years. Financial problems and disasters during construction, including a segment dug under a mountain, threaten the project. Workers revolt, and Allan becomes universally hated. After 26 years the tunnel is completed, but it is already outdated because aeroplanes now cross the Atlantic in a few hours.
Film adaptations
The book inspired four film adaptations. The first, a silent film from 1915 directed by William Wauer, captivated Adolf Hitler, who was reportedly obsessed with its protagonist's ability to rally workers through speeches. Three more versions appeared in 1933 and 1935: a German, a French, and an English film, the last retitled Transatlantic Tunnel in the United States.
More in German Science Fiction Novels
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