06/12/2011

In 2008, the novel Wetlands, by British-born German television presenter Charlotte Roche (pictured), caused a scandal and stir: in Germany, this extremely crude tale about the erotic life of a young woman with an unusual definition of hygiene sold about 2 million copies. Across the world, the book, described by some as a feminist manifesto, which opens with the phrase "I’ve had haemorrhoids for a while", became Amazon’s number one bestseller for March 2008.

Since then, Roche hasn’t only offered the German president sex in return for a commitment to shut down Germany’s nuclear reactors, she has also found the time to write a second novel, Schoßgebete, published this year and already a hit in the charts.

Constantin has decided to buy the rights to this book, which draws on biographical elements (the tragic bereavements that affected Roche in her difficult childhood) to show us the everyday life of its character Elizabeth Kiehl, including her role as a mother, her therapy and the brothels she frequents with her husband, sex being the only thing that doesn’t cause her anguish.

We’re certainly curious to see how leading German outfit Constantin will adapt this extremely subversive novel for the wide audience they usually target, and who they will choose to make it.

(Translated from French)