'1936' Summary and Analysis

The entries for 1936 aggregate fifty-eight pages and sixty-one entries, including: one for February and November; three for January; four for March and December; five for April and September; six for August and October; seven for May; nine for June; and ten for July.

In January of 1936, Klemperer completes a course in driving and receives his driving permit. The occasion is one of great pride, excitement, and dreadful worry about actually driving alone. The passion for driving, along with the purchase of a used automobile, consumes much of Klemperer's thoughts and diary throughout the year. In March, he buys a used 1932 Opel with six cylinders yielding thirty-two horsepower. The car is expensive and requires costly and constant maintenance, repairs, and gasoline. In addition, automobile insurance is costly and a new garage is constructed, along with a driveway that Klemperer refers...