July Book of the Month Pick
I’m Off Then: My Journey Along the Camino de Santiago by Hape Kerkeling
‘Written with a gentle, wry humor that recalls Bill Bryson.’
The New York Times
I’m Off Then was translated by Shelley Frisch and was released by Free Press on June 16th, 2009. Hape Kerkeling will be in the US promoting his book during the first week of September. Check the events section of our website for updates and specific locations.
Hape Kerkeling, the famous German comedian, admits that he was in no shape to start a hike across northern Spain, but in June of 2001 he decided to use his time off from working to find himself, and maybe even God, along the way. What follows is a travelogue containing a blend of Kerkeling’s witty humor and his own form of spiritualism. His journey is enriched by the wide variety of people that he encounters along the way, some for just a few miles and others he travels with for days. He eventually finds two companions, a woman from England and another from New Zealand, and the three complete the last portions of the trail together. It concludes in an enlightening experience for Kerkeling, and one that has inspired countless others in Europe to travel the Camino de Santiago.
Hape Kerkeling, winner of the Karl Valentin Prize for Humor, the Chatwin Award for Best Travel Book of the Year, and numerous other prizes, is one of Germany’s most popular comedic entertainers. I’m Off Then, his first book, has become a bestselling sensation in Germany. He lives in Berlin.
“…his emotionally probing narrative develops depth and a touching sincerity.” Publisher’s Weekly
“‘I’m Off Then’ is a travelogue and more, as Kerkeling muses on life and the people he meets along the way. He tells us how he became a show business personality and describes his childhood ambitions.[…] Since the publication of his book in 2006, participation in the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage has increased 20 percent. Much of this is due to the publication of Kerkeling's book in German and almost a dozen other languages.” Huntington News
“Kerkeling’s account of his travels was a best seller in Germany, possibly because it’s so easy to identify with him.” The New York Times
“Kerkeling's expectations are modest; he struggles to quiet his overly critical mind. It's a six-week dialogue between heart and mind and feet…” Los Angeles Times
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